"Do you have any details on this Crimson Zone, Elder Xena?" I asked.
She shook her head slowly.
"No," she replied, her expression turning serious. "Only the Matriarch knows."
That answer didn’t sit right with me.
The demons had no information. The Ferans had none. And now, even the Nagas, one of the strongest races in the Blue Spiral, knew almost nothing or did not want to share.
Even Amun had said nothing about it.
That silence itself was unsettling.
"I can help you with the Crimson Zone as well," I said. "And I won’t ask for anything in return."
The reaction was immediate. Every gaze in the hall turned toward me.
"Lord Billion... are you serious?" Xena asked, studying me carefully.
I nodded.
"How much do you actually know about the Crimson Zone?" she asked.
"Almost nothing," I admitted. "Other than the fact that the leaders of every major race are tied up there, leaving their own people and rifts to deal with the Eternals on their own."
She held my gaze for a moment, then gave a slight nod.
"Then you should hear what little we do know before making that decision," she said.
She took a slow breath before continuing.
"The Crimson Zones exist across multiple galaxies," she began. "And more importantly... they existed before the Eternals ever invaded our universe."
I listened without interrupting.
"When they were first discovered, our forces were sent to investigate," she continued. "We lost all of them."
A faint tension spread across the hall.
"It was only later that we realized the truth," she said. "Only Saints and above could even enter those zones and survive. Anyone below that level... died almost instantly upon entry."
That alone said enough.
"So the first Saints entered," she went on. "And after several days, a few of them returned."
Her voice lowered slightly.
"They came back with grave news."
I leaned forward just slightly.
"They said the Crimson Zones were more dangerous than the Eternals themselves," she said. "And they requested immediate assistance from Demi-Gods."
I blinked, genuinely surprised.
Demi-Gods.
Until now, they had only been a concept in my mind, something that should exist beyond Saints, but never something I had seen or confirmed.
If Saints were already this powerful...
What exactly were Demi-Gods?
"But that help never came," Xena continued. "Not because they refused... but because they had their own Crimson Zones to deal with."
The implication was clear. This was not a localized threat.
This was universal.
"And as expected," she added, her tone turning heavier, "the most dangerous Crimson Zone was found in the Prime Galaxy."
She exhaled slowly, as if steadying herself before continuing.
"Since then, they have remained a constant," she said. "But unlike the Eternals, the Crimson Zones do not behave like an invading force. They have a pattern. They... withdraw. They go dormant for long periods, centuries, sometimes longer and then, without warning, they flare up again. When that happens, we are forced to respond and push them back into hibernation."
I frowned slightly.
"And if you don’t?" I asked.
Before she could answer, I heard one of the elders nearby swallow audibly, the sound sharp in the otherwise silent hall.
"Destruction," Xena said.
Her voice did not rise, yet it carried enough weight to silence even the smallest movement in the room.
"The area surrounding the zone begins to collapse," she continued. ". It spreads at a terrifying pace. Life fades first... then matter itself begins to fail."
She paused for a fraction of a second.
"We have lost entire galaxies that way," she said. "Not weakened. Not damaged. Lost. Entire sectors, multiple star systems... erased from existence within hours."
For the first time since entering the hall, I felt something close to disbelief.
The scale of it didn’t make sense.
"What kind of enemy is capable of that?" I asked.
Xena shook her head.
"There is no enemy that steps out of the zone," she said. "Nothing emerges to fight. Nothing to target."
Her gaze hardened slightly.
"It is the zone itself that devours."
The words lingered.
"They spread like something diseased," she continued. " Like a cancer growing within the fabric of the universe, consuming everything around it."
I remained silent for a moment before asking,
"If nothing comes out... then how do Saints deal with it? How do they force it back into hibernation?"
She held my gaze.
Then shook her head again.
"That," she said quietly, "is what we do not know."
A faint tension passed through the room.
"The Matriarch never spoke of it," Xena added. "Not to anyone."
A brief silence followed before she looked at me again.
"So," she said, her tone measured, "would you still like to involve yourself in this?"
I nodded without hesitation.
"Yes," I replied. "I want to see this place for myself and understand what it truly is. I’m far too curious to ignore something like this."
A faint chuckle escaped her.
"That is... both reassuring and concerning," she said. "But very well. We will accept your offer of assistance."
"Thank you," I said. "So when do you plan to depart for the Crimson Zone?"
She exchanged a brief glance with the elders before answering.
"We will need time to prepare," she said. "This is not something we approach carelessly. There are protocols, formations, and contingencies that must be arranged. It will take some time."
I gave a slight nod.
"I understand."
"I will have Xeron inform you once everything is ready," she added.
"That works for me," I said as I rose to my feet.
Then I paused for a moment before continuing.
"There is one more thing," I said. "I would like your permission to establish a teleportation gate here. If we are going to work together regularly, it would be inefficient to travel back and forth manually every time."
Xena smiled and stood as well.
"Of course," she said. "You are welcome on Kaalseris at any time, Lord Billion. You have our full permission."
She glanced briefly toward Xeron.
"He will assist you with whatever you need."
I nodded.
"Then I’ll take my leave for now," I said, looking across the hall. "Until next time."
With that, I turned and walked out of the chamber, Xeron moving alongside me as we exited together.
"So you’re going to build the gate yourself?" Xeron asked as we stepped out of the hall and into the open corridors beyond.
"Yes," I replied. "I’ll handle it personally. It will be more efficient that way."
He glanced at me briefly, then gave a small nod.
"Fair enough. From what I’ve seen, you’re more than capable."
We continued walking in silence for a few steps before he spoke again.
"While you’re working on it," he said, "I’ll have Azalea come over as well."
I looked at him, a faint smile forming.
"Oh, definitely," I said. "It’s been a long time."