****** [Billion’s PoV]
I looked ahead at the empty throne.
It stood there, elevated, carrying centuries of authority, legacy, and power. There was not a single person in this hall who could stop me from walking up those steps, sitting on it, and claiming it as my own.
But I had no interest in that throne. The one I sought was far beyond this. The throne that Amun and Theras were searching for. The one that even the System itself did not speak of lightly. That was the seat worth taking.
This was not it.
I turned away from the pedestal.
With a simple wave of my hand, violet Essence surged behind me. It gathered rapidly, condensing, shaping itself into form. A throne began to rise, crafted entirely from my Essence, smooth, sharp, and radiant with a deep violet glow.
It rose higher than the pedestal. Higher than the Matriarch’s throne. And without hesitation, I sat down on it, resting comfortably as if it had always been mine.
Then I looked ahead. My gaze settled on the Feran representative. A general from the Ranthor tribe.
"General," I said calmly, "you were saying something?"
The man stiffened. Everyone could hear the faint, audible gulp.
"I... I just meant..." he began, his voice faltering.
"I heard you say," I continued, cutting him off slightly, "that we just arrived yesterday."
My eyes moved across the hall. Every single person was still standing, not daring to sit down until ordered.
Then I looked back at him.
"I have made a decision, General," I said evenly. "The Ranthor tribe is no longer qualified to lead the Feran race. From tomorrow onward, the Sharkas will take over your position."
The reaction was immediate. Shock flashed across the faces of the Ranthor members.
Then anger followed. One of the three standing behind the general stepped forward.
"Who are you to decide—"
Swish.
The sound was soft.
But final.
His tiger head separated cleanly from his body and rolled across the floor before coming to a stop. The body remained standing for a brief second before collapsing.
The entire hall tensed.
"Do not raise your voice in front of the Lord," Lyrate’s gentle voice echoed, her tone almost pleasant.
My gaze never left the general.
"Do you have something to say?" I asked.
He stood frozen for a moment. Then slowly shook his head.
"We... accept your decision," he said, his voice weak.
I nodded slightly.
"Good," I replied. "That is a smart decision."
I leaned back slightly against the throne.
"And there is no need to wait for Griffon reinforcements," I added, a faint smirk forming. "You don’t actually believe they would be able to deal with the Order of Absolute... do you?"
The general’s eyes flickered, moving from me to my summons standing behind me.
He swallowed again.
"There is nothing like that, Lord Billion," he said quickly. "We are inhabitants of the Blue Spiral Galaxy. We have no ties to the Griffons."
"That’s good to hear."
I turned my head slightly.
"Ragnar."
He stepped forward.
"Ragnar is the War Sovereign of the Order of Absolute," I said. "He will visit Ferados tomorrow and oversee the transition. Make sure your arrangements are in order, General."
The man nodded immediately.
"Yes... Lord Billion."
I waved my hand lightly.
"You may all sit."
As if released from a hold, the entire hall moved at once. Chairs slid back, and one by one, every representative took their seat again.
There was absolute silence in the hall, some of them did not even dare look at me.
"Lord Billion, the Naga race is ready to follow the lead of the Order of Absolute." It was Xena who spoke first, her voice steady, carrying clearly across the hall.
For a brief moment, silence followed. Then one by one, the others responded. Each race and their representative. Even the independent organizations, including the Warlords of the Voids. No one refused or even raised questions about how it was supposed to be done. Agreement spread through the hall like a wave.
I nodded slowly.
"I am glad," I said, leaning back slightly against the throne, "that all of you have such confidence in us."
My gaze moved across the room.
"We will not let you down. This is only the beginning. What comes next will shape the future of this galaxy."
There were stiff nods in response.
"Aurora," I said calmly.
I leaned back, giving her the floor.
Aurora stepped forward.
Her silver aura did not flare wildly this time, but it remained present, heavy enough to remind everyone of her standing. She stopped at the center of the hall, her gaze sweeping across every representative.
"My name," she began, her voice clear and controlled, "is Aurora. From this moment onward, you will refer to me as the Storm Sovereign and I am the strategist for this war and any and all wars in the future."
Without waiting for their responses, she raised her hand. A projection formed in the center of the hall, vast and detailed. The image of the Blue Spiral Galaxy appeared, rotating slowly, its structure clearly marked.
Then it divided. Seven sections formed across the galaxy, each region highlighted separately.
"We have divided the galaxy into seven sectors," Aurora continued. "Each sector will operate independently but under a unified command."
As she spoke, figures appeared within each sector.
My image. And the images of my summons. Each placed over a sector.
"Each of these sectors will be led by one of us," she said. "Your forces will be assigned accordingly and will operate under the leadership designated to your region."
The implication was clear.
"The first objective," she continued, "is the complete elimination of all remaining Grade 3 rifts."
The projection shifted, highlighting multiple locations across the galaxy.
"These will be handled with our direct involvement."
Then the projection changed again. Countless red markers appeared across planets.
Abomination nests.
Phantom activity.
Infested zones.
"Once the rifts are cleared," she said, her tone sharpening slightly, "we move to the second phase."
Her eyes moved across the hall.
"The eradication of all abominations and phantoms across every world in this galaxy. This phase," she added, "you will handle."
"You will not receive direct assistance from us during this stage," she continued. "Your forces will operate independently. However, you will report your progress regularly."
"We expect full completion."
A brief pause.
"Within ten days."
Aurora lowered her hand.
"That," she said, "is the plan."
She looked across the hall once more.
"And we expect it to be executed without failure. Now, do you have any questions?"