The 9 Sectors that made up the observable universe were each home to a different dominant race, just like how Sector 3 was the domain of humans.
Sector 1 belonged to the Angels, Sector 2 to the Demons, Sector 4 to the Beasts, Sector 5 to the Dwarves, Sector 6 to the Giants, Sector 7 to the Spirits, Sector 8 to the Plant Races, and finally, Sector 9 to the Elves.
Currently, within the Sky Castle Luxurion, the main neutral zone in Sector 1 that was used for only the most important meetings and gatherings, a fierce discussion was taking place.
"Sector 9 is gone entirely. The area has been turned into a Dark Zone. According to the scouts we sent out, it's a complete Dark Zone, meaning it will never become inhabitable for living creatures ever again. Even if we were the ones to enter, we'd die within weeks." A golden-haired man spoke seriously.
He was joined at a round table by 15 other executives who represented major forces in Sector 1, but even though their affiliations differed, they all shared one characteristic.
The pure white wings on their backs that signified their status as Angels.
"This isn't good." Another man stated. "The Nox are making their move already, but we have no way to keep up with their movements. How is it possible that they annihilated an entire Sector within a single month?!"
"Don't speculate so much, Parsiel. How certain are you that this is the work of the Nox and not some catastrophic natural phenomenon?" A third man questioned.
The angel names Parsiel scoffed in bemusement. "Are you even listening to yourself? That is the most idiotic reasoning imaginable. Do not evade the issue just because you're a coward. Their mana has been identified at the scene, so it is guaranteed that this was their doing."
The first angel that spoke nodded in agreement. "They made no attempt to hide their tracks. It was almost as if they were mocking us."
"Tch!" The third man scoffed and turned away, not speaking any longer. But his silence didn't matter in the grand scheme of things, since the important conversations continued with those more willing to participate.
"Sector 9's destruction isn't something that should be hidden. We must communicate with the other Sectors and warn them ahead of time in case something like this happens again."
"Why can't we just order them to strengthen their defenses?"
"Even if our Sector is numbered first, we do not rule over the others. We cannot order them to do anything. Besides, not all the Sectors have the manpower to guard the entire periphery of their territory. And even if they did, there are many selfish individuals who wouldn't listen to us."
"What's the use of being selfish? Even if they are selfish now, they'll fall with the rest of us if we lose this war. What a bastardly mentality to have." Parsiel sneered. Even though he didn't say it to anyone specifically, the third man who spoke felt like he was stabbed with a knife.
Luciel, the first angel that spoke, opened his mouth once again. "We cannot make any drastic moves at the moment, for we have no information to go off of. The best we can do is warn the others and pray for the best. We aren't yet ready to engage in a full-scale war."
"What about the Assembly?" Another angel asked.
Luciel furrowed his brows in thought. "Although I wish to bring it forward, it won't be possible. The Assembly was already organized at the earliest possible dates. Because of the movements of the other Sectors' forces, things will inevitably be delayed until then."
"Tch. It must be those useless humans in Sector 3 again. Were they even able to receive word of the Assembly with their backwards technologies?" The third man scorned.
Luciel shook his head. "They are aware of the Assembly date, but I'm afraid they won't receive the message if we decide to change it. Unfortunately, Sector 3 was hit the hardest in the previous war. Their societal standard regressed heavily. Still, do not shame the humans. Even though their people had the most traitors among them, they also fought the hardest for the safety of our universe."
Parsiel nodded in agreement. "Although I have never been there myself, I have heard many rumors. Sector 3 is a land of geniuses despite their low level of technical achievement. It isn't a place to look down on. Haa, if only they could fix their Cross-Sector Teleportation Array, things would become much simpler."
"But we cannot rely on "ifs" at a time like this. Since Sector 9 and Sector 3 are relatively distant from each other, there is no need to inform the Human Domain about what happened. They will come to know the truth at the time of the Assembly anyway." Luciel said.
The other angels all voiced their agreement. Even if the Human Domain was a reliable asset, that was only if they could rejoin the wider universe again. Compared to the wider universe, Sector 3 was a land of country bumpkins.
Whether it be in terms of spacecraft and mobile suit technology, teleportation arrays, or just general connection between Sectors, Sector 3 was the most lacking.
And the thing that isolated them the most was the fact that Sector 3 could no longer access the Dimensional Leaderboard.
'The Dimensional Leaderboard might seem simple, but it's the connecting point between Sectors and the main avenue that fosters cooperation between them. One's ranking on the Dimensional Leaderboard wouldn't just represent them, but their whole Sector. And if one managed to get into the top 10, their Sector would immediately be elevated to a powerhouse none would dare to offend.' Parsiel thought to himself.
'But it isn't just that. Even those who have no interest in the reputation of their Sector will still participate because of the rewards. The Contribution Points granted by the Dimensional Leaderboard can be used to exchange for a variety of things. And since the leaderboard is managed by the Universal Will itself, it is impossible to question it.'
Parsiel kept pondering to himself. The Dimensional Leaderboard and the system around it were the main ways those in the 8 connected Sectors grew stronger. It was a practical solution to the universal system's rule that one must kill to gain experience, making leveling far safer and more accessible.
But even though this method allowed for the mass production of talents, it dulled people's fighting spirits. Those who threw themselves into danger constantly weren't as common as they used to be.
And Parsiel was one of these people. As someone who experienced countless trials and tribulations to reach his level of strength while ignoring the temptation of the Dimensional Leaderboard, he particularly understood the necessity of these experiences.
And Sector 3 was a land where the Dimensional Leaderboard didn't exist. It was filled with practitioners who grew up in that brutal killing environment. If that was so…
'Then those in Sector 3 might be our most important fighting strength for the coming war. The rest of the angels look down on them. Even Luciel subconsciously does the same. However, I cannot allow hubris to cloud my mind.'
Nobody knew what the people of Sector 3 were doing, but that didn't mean they didn't deserve to know the events taking place in the wider universe. And if nobody else wanted to take the job of informing them…
'Then I'll do it myself.'
Parsiel left the Sky Castle Luxurion after the meeting ended and immediately took flight, arriving at the nearest long-distance teleportation array.
He didn't know how long his journey to Sector 3 would take, but he had a gut feeling.
A feeling that being on good terms with Sector 3 would be one of the best decisions he ever made in his life.
