"What are your thoughts on the situation?"
After a long while of idle conversation, Tian Yang finally brought up the most important question.
"Realistically?" The Golden Dragon Emperor responded.
"Mm. We don't have room for ideals anymore."
"Hmm…"
The emperor furrowed his brows in thought for a moment.
Speaking in ideals, in false bravado, was incredibly easy. He could say so many confident words about their fates in a single breath that all of them lost meaning.
But if he had to think from the perspective of reality, based on the current situation and accounting for unknown variables that were guaranteed to pop up with an enemy like the Nox…
"It is not appealing."
This was also easy to say. Everyone could say this much.
"Luciel has been unable to control the internal situation. More and more loyal soldiers are turning their backs under the false assumption that they can save themselves. The Nox themselves continue to alter their strategies to remain unpredictable, and their cohesiveness is unmatchable by beings like us."
Luciel and Tian Yang became acquainted around the time of the Grand Assembly and had been working closely together since then.
It was a network that also included those like Errysea and Director Alucard, those who were absolutely trustworthy.
This relatively small camp in the Beast Domain didn't enter many people's sights, but it actually held greater significance than any of them could imagine.
Luciel was well aware of the internal situation's deterioration. He was the one working hardest to calm it and bring order into operations.
However, his influence was waning.
His tactics and strategies were great, and his ability to command couldn't be questioned either. In all regards, there was no logical reason to phase him out of the ruling position, but it was still happening.
Was it because he was too righteous? Did his movements interfere with the interests of others?
But with the Heavenly Clan supporting him and his goal being the salvation of their universe, just whose interest could be touched.
"Their existence is no longer a rumor, eh? The highest level has been corrupted beyond saving."
Tian Yang sighed wryly.
Too much damage had already been done.
"I will communicate with Luciel later. Instead of trying to order something already corrupted by chaos, it is better to eliminate the roots and prevent the spread. We must begin a search for traitors."
"Such is always the case. How many times have we assumed we had taken care of all traitors and secured ourselves? Unfortunately, there must be enough in hiding protected by those at the top. Now that the situation is spiraling out of control, they are taking the opportunity to show their fangs."
Tian Yang nodded heavily.
There weren't many clues at the moment since Heaven's Army was breaking down on several fronts at once, but information was something to be collected over time.
"The only question is whether or not we can buy enough time to solve this without too many losses. Despite the negatives, I still believe we can save this place with enough effort. We've done it before, haven't we? Perhaps not on this scale, but the world being against us has never held us back before."
They were idealistic words, the type they promised not to speak, but Tian Yang couldn't help himself.
He truly believed it.
The universe was filled with rotten trees that bred an unending stream of rotten apples, but he believed in the premier seedlings that were growing under the protection of those who remained just.
"Time" was still the greatest issue, but from the Prismatic Sun Holy Master's reports, those geniuses who'd been taken for training were progressing steadily and would be ready to join the frontlines in another three years at most.
Other than them, there was also the recently rising Judgement Order.
That wasn't an organization that could function with the younger generation alone. Many experts backed them from the shadows, including Tian Yang and the rest who had a deep personal connection with the group.
More than miscellaneous geniuses, he believed in them more.
Funnily enough, this belief came from their relationships with his disciple.
'With the way things are going, he will undoubtedly surpass me within a few years.'
That child was special, but as he continued to grow, it became clear to Tian Yang just how special he was.
He wasn't someone meant to mingle with people like them who had limited talent.
He was someone who should've been born on a better playing field.
But, his existence in the universe was more than just a blessing.
Tian Yang knew very clearly why the Human Domain was still safe. The beautiful array of spatial traps he'd set was so complex that someone like Tian Yang could learn many truths from them.
Even disregarding that, wasn't there still no news from No Return Pass?
Damien didn't contact them, but the Nox hadn't made any moves either. With their nature, they would've been ecstatically boasting if they managed to kill the universe's greatest genius.
Wasn't it funny?
A single man was out there slaughtering more enemies than the strongest of Supremes active on the frontlines.
His existence, their existence, and the existence of those who supported and sponsored their growth, that was the origin of Tian Yang's faith.
As for the older generation…
"It doesn't matter. For old bones like us, isn't one last stint on the battlefield our ultimate wish? We just need to stay alive long enough for them to mature, then we can start running wild until the reins can be passed over proudly."
The Golden Dragon Emperor hummed in agreement, but his expression did not lighten.
Tian Yang shook his head and patted his shoulder.
"Come, we have work to do. Regardless of reality, we must not lose hope in creating the fantastical future we dream of. Otherwise, we truly succumb to impossibility."
The Golden Dragon Emperor sighed.
"Haa, I understand this much. I naturally will not falter before this level of pressure, however…"
He looked up at his old friend before lifting his gaze into the sky, where the Fate Star shone ever so brightly.
It was alone in the starry sky. The twinkling lights nearby were far enough to form a massive void in the blackness of the night on this distant planet
That blackness used to be empty.
Now, it was filled up with too many hidden enemies to count.
"If…"
He looked back into Tian Yang's eyes with absolute clarity.
"If worst comes to worst, please take care of Astoria."
Yang grinned.
"I'm afraid you will have to look for someone more trustworthy."
He stood up and gazed at the same star his friend watched with such a forlorn expression, his eyes bright with fire.
"10,000 years ago, on that very star, we made a bet."
The Golden Dragon Emperor raised his brow, his eyes widening slightly when the memory returned to him.
Tian Yang smiled as he saw the man's expression change and continued.
"Xingtian might not be with us anymore, but I refuse to lose."
"You're a crazy bastard."
"I earned an entire title due to that fact. It still has not left my status."
"Hm. I am thoroughly convinced. A crash bastard will always remain a crazy bastard."
The Golden Dragon Emperor stood up as well.
"You want to win that bad?"
Tian Yang shrugged.
"You can judge that yourself. Then, have you decided to continue moping here, or are you coming with me?"
"Neither. I'm going back to Beast Emperor Star. There is much to be done."
"Haha, bastard. Get out from behind that desk and join us on the battlefield."
"Maybe next time. This one…well, is there any need for me to come?"
The two men smiled.
"Not in the slightest," Tian Yang replied with supreme confidence.
As if he decided to break the atmosphere in a single move, Tian "It's just a few tens of millions Nox, right? My juniors can finish them off with a pinky."
They'd spoken for almost three hours now. Everything that needed to be said, and everything unsaid was understood.
Their conversation was more for them to bring peace to their minds than anything else. Even people at their level could experience mental fatigue from time to time.
Fatigue could be cleared away with good friends and spirit liquor.
But the grass was still uncut.
Before they could pull out the roots and rid themselves of this fatigue forever, they had to finish mowing the grass that dared pollute their lawn.
