Chapter 269: Summary
"This is only the opening assault," she said, her tone carrying the weight of an old, buried wound. "Their higher-ups cannot yet enter our realm. Not because they don't want to, but because they can't—at least for now."
All eyes turned to her. Laras seemed lost in thought, as if remembering something she wished to forget. "As we all know," she continued, "the process of Cosmic Unification is underway. When it reaches 100%, the barrier between dimensions will disappear, and their leaders will attack with full force."
"What's the current percentage of Cosmic Unification?" Lein asked, his tone flat but firm.
Hana, sitting next to Laras, immediately responded. "It's currently at 71%."
The atmosphere in the room shifted. Some core members froze, while others exchanged looks of shock.
"What?!" exclaimed Bagus, nearly jumping from his seat. "How is that possible? We just checked, and it was still at 44%!"
"That's the latest report from the Reconnaissance Division," Hana replied firmly, though her face looked slightly pale. "This isn't fabricated data. It has been verified."
Some members murmured softly, trying to process the grim news. The tension grew thicker until Lein, seated at the end of the table, raised a hand. "Everyone, calm down."
Lein's voice silenced all whispers. He looked at each of them, ensuring their full attention was on him.
"It's true that Cosmic Unification has reached 71%. As Laras mentioned, once it reaches 100%, they will attack with their full force."
Lein paused, allowing his words to sink into everyone's minds.
"However, you don't need to be afraid," he continued, his tone shifting to one of confidence and determination. "Before that happens, I strongly suspect that there will be a selection of Guardians for our Divine Sky Realm."
Those words hung in the air like the toll of a great bell. Everyone stared at Lein, trying to grasp his meaning. Lein didn't immediately continue, choosing to wait for their responses.
"Yes, that's correct…" Hana tilted her head, gazing at Lein with curiosity. Her brows furrowed slightly as if she were deep in thought.
"By the way, have all the alliance leaders agreed to choose you as the Guardian, Brother Lein?"
Lein gave a small smile, one filled with confidence but devoid of excessive emotion. He nodded lightly and replied in a relaxed tone, "Even if they don't want to, I will force them."
The statement echoed through the room, causing a moment of silence. The resolute aura radiating from Lein made it clear to everyone that this wasn't an empty claim.
Takulani, who had been sitting quietly in the corner of the table, finally spoke. His voice was deep and calm, like the flow of a river carrying immense power beneath its surface.
"That's right," he said, crossing his arms over his chest. "There's no need to ask for permission. Since we are strong enough to force them, it will be easier that way."
The atmosphere grew heavier, but Lein merely nodded with composed ease. "Alright," he said, redirecting everyone's focus.
"Back to the topic. Is there any other information about these alien attacks that hasn't been discussed?"
Several core members began sharing their experiences with the alien creatures, showing battle scars as evidence. Although much of the information was already known, they still reported minor details to help refine their strategy.
Takulani recounted a battle against a group of Tier-3s that ended up fighting each other after infiltrating a small territory. Hana added that while their attacks were organized, gaps in coordination still existed. Lein listened attentively, analyzing every speaker.
After several minutes of discussion, Lein raised a hand—a simple gesture, but one that immediately silenced the room. "Alright," he said, his tone cold and commanding.
"That's enough about the alien creatures." He turned to his right, where Nita sat with a tablet in her hands, ready with notes.
"Nita," Lein called her succinctly. "Read the summary."
Nita, who had been busy typing on her tablet throughout the meeting, straightened her posture. She took a short breath and began reading in a clear voice that resonated in the room. "The results of our discussion are as follows," she said, her eyes fixed on the tablet screen.
"First, the Cosmic Unification process is now at 85% and continues to rise. Once this process is complete, beings beyond the Master level will be able to enter our Divine Sky Realm."
Some core members appeared uneasy, glancing at each other with unreadable expressions. Even Takulani, who was usually calm, tapped his fingers on the table—a sign that he was deep in thought.
"Continue," Lein prompted gently, encouraging Nita to proceed.
"Second," Nita continued without hesitation, "this attack is merely the opening strike. Their current power cap is Tier-3, but their next assault will be at full strength."
Nita's firm tone made the room even quieter. The sound of the core members' breathing grew heavier, as if her words carried an additional weight they had to bear.
"Third," Nita went on, "these alien creatures are not entities entirely different from us but rather other races that have existed before us."
This statement caught some by surprise. A few members frowned, clearly trying to grasp the implications of this revelation. Hana looked as though she wanted to say something but chose to remain silent.
"Fourth," Nita glanced briefly at Lein to ensure she was proceeding correctly, "their goal is to plunder the Divine Sky Realm—claiming all its resources and assimilating its rulers into their race."
These words were delivered coldly, yet their impact felt like a hammer striking the walls of their confidence.
"Fifth," Nita's voice softened slightly but remained firm, "once the Cosmic Unification is complete, it's highly likely that a Guardian Selection for the Divine Sky Realm will take place."