It started but a day ago.
Evacuation procedures began several weeks prior, but with the massive population of Beast Emperor Star, even Damien's improved teleportation array system could only do so much.
Everything was going according to plan.
Regular citizens were being moved to safety as fast as possible, and those who decided to stay and fight were being trained as efficiently as possible for the wars that would come in the future.
But nobody expected the Nox to come so soon.
They'd been focusing on Soul World with such ferocity that it was hard to imagine they still had forces to spare on their small resistance.
In fact, it wasn't wrong to think this way at all.
For several months, the level of invasion was extremely manageable, to the point where their guards were naturally lowered.
But that was probably what the Nox were aiming for from the start.
They never planned to leave a single world alone.
Especially not one with as much significance as the Fate Star.
How did they do it?
Astoria's ability to read the flow of Fate should've given them ample time to prepare for such an invasion, but she didn't feel anything out of the ordinary before the day of.
They still hadn't found the reason, but if one had to assume, they had some mechanism in their hidden dimension that cut them out of the flow of Fate that could be read.
So when they finally showed themselves, it was impossible to react.
They aimed for two places first.
The training grounds of regular soldiers, and the teleportation array.
Damien's precautions allowed the teleportation array to fend off the invading forces despite not having as many experts nearby, which luckily allowed them to save most of the common people, but the regular soldiers weren't so lucky.
They were mentally prepared to face such a large number of enemies. It was hard not to be when one saw its scale so many times before this moment happened.
But they weren't trained enough yet.
They tried their best to fight, but the Nox overpowered them within a few hours and started a massacre.
Naturally, the Judgement Order and Golden Dragon Clan responded in kind.
They spread their forces across the world for battle. The Golden Dragon Clan's squad, led by Hedrick and Astoria, went to the training camps to help with defense, while Long Chen and Aishia led their squads to support the teleportation array.
Rose and the rest went to their positions and held out the best they could, but it was hard to cope with the enemy's numbers with their small force.
Especially now that Xue Fang was no longer in the Judgement Order.
Tian Yang and the Golden Dragon Emperor were in the Golden Dragon Palace depths, in a place too secure for even a Supreme to reach, so not much thought was put into the Golden Dragon Estate, since the reserve forces and imperial guard were still present there, but this was a lapse in judgement.
Not one that could be prevented either.
Who would've thought such a thing would happen?
It only took a few hours for Rose and the rest to cope with the situation and start moving properly, but by the time she sent Su Ren to support the Golden Dragon Estate…
…they were already gone.
Every individual present there, from the non-combatants, to the imperial guard, to the children, they were nothing more than corpses on the ground.
'The women have been violated and the rest have been tortured. How could they accomplish this in such a short period of time?'
The answer was—
'—they couldn't.'
Su Ren was forced to be objective. He couldn't allow his emotions to sway him even in the face of such an atrocity.
He inspected the corpses seriously and came to a conclusion.
'It is impossible to inflict wounds like these in a matter of 2 hours.'
"This is Alpha. Judging by the scene, the enemies in the Golden Dragon Estate are able to use Time Laws. How should we proceed?"
He gave the report as he saw it and waited for orders, because he couldn't be sure he could handle this alone.
The other side was silent for a moment. His communication was transmitted to everyone, not just Rose, and they all came to the same conclusion.
For him to say such a thing, the scene he saw must've been terrible. The things that happened…
"Can you do it?"
Rose spoke before the remaining Golden Dragons could do anything reckless.
"I cannot be certain. There may be a Supreme among them."
The location of the three Supremes that led the attack was already confirmed.
Hedrick was fighting one, while two other Supremes from the Golden Dragon Clan were holding off the others.
"Do you have evidence?" Rose asked.
The presence of a fourth Supreme would tip the scales completely.
They didn't have another Supreme to combat that hidden existence.
Su Ren's eyes narrowed as he frowned.
"None, but I can't ignore the possibility."
Rose's expression was dignified as she listened.
Su Ren's current fighting power was that of an Executioner. Unless it was truly a Supreme, he would be able to take the risk and engage, but if that powerful person was truly there, he would be killed regardless of his power.
She gritted her teeth.
As a leader, she had to make the decision that benefited the majority. She couldn't be swayed by her friendships or allies.
"Engage."
Her voice was strained, but she still forced the word out.
"We can't allow them to reach the bunker."
Su Ren sighed to himself.
"Understood. I will update every 10 minutes from now on. If my communications cut off, consider me dead."
He looked back at his squad, all of whom nodded with hardened faces.
They'd all been prepared to lose their lives from the start.
Without hesitation, they started moving towards the hidden enemy.
This situation was reminiscent of the Black Dragon invasion of the past.
If they reached the Demigods below and managed to invoke a response that sent them to the Ancient Battlefield, many things would be ruined.
To stop that from happening, to keep their main support system alive, they had no choice but to move.
Astoria listened to everything from her place on the battlefield.
There was nothing she could do.
Was there nothing she could do?
The more she heard, the more her rage boiled. Her hatred for the Nox reached a personal level that it never reached before.
Was there nothing she could do for her home besides act as a regular soldier?
Did she have to stay here, fighting against nine revolutions Nox beings who appeared as if they were infinite?
'No.'
She refused.
This was her home.
This was the Fate Star. It was the source of her power. It was the origin of everything she stood for.
'If Master was here, he wouldn't be reserved to the situation.'
If her Master was here, he'd create a miracle that led them to victory.
'I am his disciple.'
She was the Void Princess.
To be granted such a title…
'…Master must have believed in my potential.'
If her Master who could do anything believed in her enough to pass her this mantle…
'…I will not disappoint those expectations.'
With burning tears streaming down her face and burning rage filling her heart and soul, she would create the miracle that saved this world.
