Abarith
patreon
Chapter 42: May Humanity Prosper (Helena PoV)
🕑 Added 2024-11-29 14:33:00 +0000 UTCHelena floated silently among the most powerful individuals of humanity, each suspended in the cold, dark void at the edge of known space. Here, beyond the realm of solar systems and cosmic radiation, the universe seemed to breathe in its stillness. Deep space was a void, as empty as the yawning uncertainty they all felt but refused to acknowledge. Helena focused on the distortion ahead, the place where logic fractured.
It wasn’t visible, not to their eyes. It wasn’t something they could touch, and yet it was everywhere. A border that defied space, that mocked movement itself. Helena had tried to cross it, expending her formidable will, only to find herself both closer and somehow held back, locked in a strange limbo of existence and stasis.
Around her floated the Emperor, dressed in his formal purple robe, alongside Adrian and a few others: Velorn with his solemn eyes; Mirai, humanity’s foremost tactician; and a handful of the greatest elites. And in front of them, beyond the invisible boundary, was the answer to a question Helena hadn’t known they were asking.
The universe had an edge.
“Any news from the scouts?” The Emperor’s voice rang across the silence, transmitted not through the void but directly to their minds. He floated in his glory, somehow looking both part of the void and its ruler.
Adrian answered, his presence steady beside her. “I have sent the The One-Man Legion. All of him, from every quadrant, report the same thing. They have all found it.”
“The wall is real then.” Mirai’s tone was clipped, professional, but Helena could sense the discomfort beneath. “A finite universe.”
“Theoretically, there was always the slightest possibility,” Velorn added, his gaze unwavering. “But to see it… changes things.”
Helena exhaled, her breath invisible in the vacuum. Yes, it changed everything. It meant that Essence, the lifeblood of power, the substance that determined humanity’s strength, was limited. It meant that every Essence they gathered was at the expense of another. There was no infinite expansion. No endless frontier to divide among the other species fighting for dominion over the stars.
The Emperor remained silent for a long time, his eyes fixed on the unyielding distortion before them. Helena imagined that he was willing it to vanish—an impossible command even for him. Finally, he turned to face them, the intensity in his gaze cutting through the silence.
“This changes our strategy,” he said, his voice echoing through their minds. “Our understanding of Essence, of power itself, has been based on the idea of an infinite universe. That, given enough time, space, and expansion, we could coexist alongside the rest of the universe. Divide the spoils rather than fight to the death.”
Helena felt a chill settle into her bones, something colder than the void around her. She knew where this was going, even before the Emperor continued.
“But this wall changes everything,” the Emperor said. “We are now in a zero-sum game. Every thing we take—every planet, every dungeon, every bit of Essence—we deny to our enemies. Every other civilization now exists at our expense.” He paused, letting his words sink in. “We can no longer afford to play nice. We must take it all. And we must act before the others learn what we have discovered.”
Helena’s breath caught, her heart thundering in her chest. She glanced at Adrian, whose eyes were fixed on the Emperor, his face expressionless. The others were similarly impassive, knowing the monumental change that was about to occur.
“We must act while the other civilizations remain unaware, while they still believe in the myth of infinite space,” the Emperor declared. “We will mobilize all of humanity, conscripting every able-bodied individual into our armies. Some portion of the army will be responsible for the essentials—food, war materials, medical care, infrastructure maintenance, and energy production. Everything else will be abandoned in service of victory.”
Velorn’s eyes narrowed. “And those who oppose? Those who refuse to serve?”
The Emperor’s gaze was cold, unflinching. “They will be eliminated. We cannot afford dissent. Any potential subversive elements, those who doubt or resist, will be removed before we make our move. We cannot risk even the smallest of rebellions. Do not hesitate, it is better to kill innocents that to leave a potential enemy. And, if you have personal grudges and wish to eliminate someone, add them to the list. I would rather have my greatest elites more loyal to me than adhere to outdated principles. The law no longer matters, but our victory does.”
He then turned to Mirai. “Provide me with the latest population statistics. How many are too young for school, how many are too injured to work or fight?”
Mirai adjusted her stance, her mind racing as she pulled up the data. “Approximately fifteen percent of the population is too young for school. They are infants, toddlers, and children—our next generation. Another seven percent are too injured to work or fight effectively, either from the ongoing skirmishes or industrial accidents. Most of them are unlikely to recover fully in the near term.”
The Emperor’s expression remained unchanged, his eyes narrowed in thought. Mirai continued, “The remainder are either in education, in the army, or otherwise capable of being conscripted. If we need to maximize our forces, we can pull a significant portion of teachers, though it will significantly impact our intellectual development long-term.”
The Emperor then spoke, his voice a command that brooked no argument. “All of them will be conscripted, teachers and students alike. The students will complete their final year of schooling, but it will not be in classrooms. They will be tasked with eliminating Tier 0-2 civilizations occupying previously insignificant pockets within our territory. There will be heavy casualties among the students, but those who survive will be hardened by battle and will be strengthened by the Essence from these conquests. Those that fail, we will no longer have to waste resources on.
The younger children will also contribute. They will be integrated into the war effort, either by helping with the war economy, or by performing supportive roles such as logistics, medical assistance, and maintaining equipment. Once they reach thirteen and unlock their Status, they will be thrown directly into the frontlines. Their lives will serve humanity’s victory, one way or another.”
Velorn's face showed a flicker of hesitation. "What about the future of our society Maximillian? With no education, no dedicated growth for the next generation, won't we lose too much of what makes us civilized? How will we sustain ourselves after the war?"
The Emperor's expression remained cold, unmoving. "It does not matter what is left of humanity," he said. "We have all the time we need to repopulate and spread throughout the universe. Civilization, technology, culture—all of it can be rebuilt once we are victorious."
A heavy silence settled over them.
The Emperor looked at Adrian, “You have this year to eliminate the Borians. Their rapid reproduction cannot be left unchecked. It does not matter if you break the rules of war, as long as the Borians are eliminated.”
“By breaking those rules, the other civilizations of the universe will be outraged and will demand a summit. We will insist that the summit be held on the home planet of the Tellus.”
“Meanwhile, Helena's battlefront against the Tellus will be abandoned—redirected to assist in the fight against the Borians. Since we are currently in negotiations with the Tellus, it will not raise suspicions that we have removed our forces there, and might even help misdirect them.”
“During the summit, we will launch the first strike.”
Helena felt the enormity of what was being proposed. The totality of it. There would be no half-measures. No retreat. Humanity would either win and reign supreme, or they would be obliterated.
“The economy, our way of life, the future we have built…” Mirai spoke hesitantly, her words trailing off.
The Emperor nodded, his gaze hard. “It will all be sacrificed. If we win, we will shape a new future. We will rule all that remains. There will be no challengers, no threats. Only humanity.”
“We will do what we must,” Adrian said, his voice steady, filled with absolute confidence in himself and his abilities. Helena could sense the certainty behind his words, a confidence that seemed unshakeable even in the face of what lay ahead.
The Emperor’s eyes locked onto Helena’s. “Are you with us, Helena? Will you do what must be done?”
She hesitated, just for a moment. She thought of Jeremy and Andrew, both currently at the academy, training, oblivious to the war that was coming for them. Would they be ready? Would they even survive? She felt Adrian’s hand reach for hers, his presence a steady anchor in the storm of her thoughts. And then she nodded as her heart sank. She feared that they might not survive the coming years.
“For humanity,” she said, as if trying to convince herself. She had dedicated her life to safeguarding her people, but the path ahead was one soaked in blood and sacrifice. She could still feel Adrian’s hand in hers, and she clung to that warmth, knowing it was the last comfort she would allow herself. There was no place for hesitation anymore. They had all crossed the line, and there was no turning back.
The Emperor nodded, satisfied. He turned his gaze back to the distortion before them, the impossible wall that marked the end of everything they had believed about the universe.
“Mirai,” the Emperor commanded, “outline the approach we will take.”
Mirai gave a sharp nod, her voice steady as she spoke. “The initial step will be the rapid and decisive elimination of the Tier 0-2 civilizations within our territory. These civilizations are fragmented, weak, and often unaware of the existence of other civilizations besides themselves. Thus they are the ideal targets for our soon-to-be graduates. Those who survive will gain vital experience and Essence that will strengthen our forces.”
Velorn frowned. “Are we confident that our students would be able to eliminate these civilizations? The risk of failure is high.”
Mirai paused, meeting Velorn's gaze firmly. “The risk is indeed significant, but our students, while inexperienced, will be put to the test against the weakest targets first. This phased approach ensures that they slowly gain the experience and Essence they need before hitting the stronger civilizations. And should they somehow fail to completely eliminate them within a year, a legion could run through and finish the job in a week or so.”
Velorn gave a reluctant nod, and the Emperor’s gaze shifted back to Mirai, urging her to continue. “While these inner pockets are being neutralized, we will start to soften our enemies. We will not directly attack those border zones that touch our territory. Instead, we will infiltrate and attack the borders between other major civilizations, sowing confusion and sparking skirmishes amongst them. Specialized units, such as the Shadow Corps, will be deployed to execute these covert operations, ensuring that these civilizations fight among themselves and remain unaware of our true intentions. Their expertise in deception will allow us to let their suspicions and distrust weaken their alliances, making it easier for us to strike decisively later.”
Mirai paused, her gaze hardening. “After establishing control within our own territory, completing the universal conscription, and wiping out the Borian infestation, we will move to strike at the heart of the other civilizations. The summit on the Tellus home planet will serve as both a distraction and the starting point for our offensive. While their leaders are focused on diplomatic dealings, Emperor Maximillian, who will be at the summit, will attempt a decapitation strike on at least one of the other civilizations, while at the same time causing as much death as possible on the Tellus homeworld. Simultaneously, we will launch coordinated strikes against their core worlds, cutting off their command structures and ensuring chaos among their ranks. Meanwhile, our conscripts will push against all our borders, a wave of legions that will wipe out all non humans.”
“Then let it begin,” he said. “We will tear down all who stand in our way. For humanity. For our future. There will be no coexistence, no surrender, no mercy. Humanity will be the sole master of this universe.”
“This campaign will not be swift. The total eradication of our enemies will stretch over decades or even centuries. The risks are considerable—internal dissent, supply chain disruptions, and the combined resistance of the other major civilizations. But with the element of surprise, relentless strategy, and the full mobilization of humanity, we will overcome each of these obstacles. We must take advantage of their current ignorance of the nature of the universe, now is our only chance. Humanity's triumph will be inevitable, no matter how long it takes or how many must fall.”
Helena closed her eyes, feeling the cold void pressing in from all sides, feeling the weight of the decision they had made—the war they would unleash, the blood they would spill. It would be the war to end all wars.
And there was no turning back.
The Emperor turned back to face them all, his eyes piercing each of their gazes. He raised his right hand, a silent command for unity. The others followed, raising their hands in solemnity, an unspoken ritual, their final pledge.
“May humanity prosper,” the Emperor intoned, his voice echoing through the minds of those present.
“May humanity prosper,” they all echoed in unison, their voices carrying across the void, heralding the beginning of a new era for the universe.
Comments
David Otis
Oh snap! Thx for the chapter!
