September 20XX, Sector 8
As the home of the Plant Races, Sector 8 was widely regarded as the weakest of the 9 Sectors. The only reason Sector 9 was ranked below it was due to the fact that Sector 9 was only about half the size of the other Sectors, contributing to its weaker combat power.
Currently, the executives of Sector 8 were in turmoil, unable to decide their next move. Starting a few days back, small skirmishes and disappearances began spreading through their territory.
In normal times, these events wouldn’t even reach the ears of the top experts in the Sector, but these weren’t normal times.
News arrived from Sector 1. Sector 9 was annihilated by the Nox.
Knowing this, the higher-ups in Sector 8 were especially paranoid about the events in their territory. Even they were aware of their weakness compared to the other dominant races.
Each race that was able to rise to the status of dominant race had its own special characteristics that allowed them to do so.
For instance, the giants had extreme physical strength, while dwarves were naturally blessed by fire and metal. Humans were an outlier who didn’t have any particular specialty, but their terrifying adaptability and reproduction rates weren’t things to be looked down upon.
But what about the Plant Races? Why were they able to become and stay the dominant races of Sector 8?
It was simply because of numbers.
Sector 8 was never a place that indulged in the same barbaric atmosphere as the rest of the universe. While the system promoted slaughter in exchange for power, most of those residing in Sector 8 didn’t follow the same rules.
They used different methods to grow strength, things like long-time accumulation of energy and natural treasures. Although these methods are just as viable as others, they took far more time to bear fruit.
Because of this, Sector 8 had plenty of potential, but was lacking in the number of experts possessed.
Their mentalities made them weak.
And now, their weakness was coming back to bite them.
A frail-looking woman stood on the crown of a massive tree that overlooked the world she lived in. Her skin was a pale green color, while her hair was a deeper emerald. Even her eyes had hues of green and yellow within.
“It is only the start, yet the elders are already clamoring in panic and calling it war. Although they aren’t necessarily wrong, it’s still pathetic.” She sighed to herself.
“So far, there have only been small skirmishes at most. If it wasn’t for the abhorrent mana lingering after those clashes, we wouldn’t have even been notified. With the way they are moving currently, it’ll take a few more months before they launch a full-scale invasion.”
The woman walked into the crown of the tree, disappearing into the foliage. Somehow, her body arrived inside a small cabin hidden within the branches.
“It would be meaningless to hope for support from the other Sectors. They likely think of our races as burdens for the coming war. But with even the central pillars of our Sector submerged in despair so early, I’m afraid our chances of survival are nil.”
The woman shook her head. “Nevertheless, we must fight. I have been preparing so long for this day, and even if my preparations aren’t enough, I can at least buy us time. For now, however, it is best to wait and see. The current scale of the battle isn’t enough for me to make a move.”
Sector 9 was destroyed in a month with all others being none the wiser. However, the current movements of the Nox didn’t suggest they’d take the same approach with Sector 8.
The woman didn’t want to bank on this assumption, but it was the only hope she had. If the Nox decided to directly launch a full-scale invasion at the moment, even the forces she tirelessly built wouldn’t be able to resist for long.
“Haa, fate is quite the cruel mistress.” The woman sighed to herself once more.
She closed her eyes, her human body vanishing. Her consciousness descended into the tree she was standing on, her main body.
‘Until the time comes when I must move, I can only observe. How long will it be until our noble Sector is brought to ruin? Despite how nihilistic it feels, it still makes me quite curious.’
With that, the woman completed her thoughts, returning to the routine she spent her usual days within.
***
‘Hmm, what should I do with these people?’ Damien wondered to himself.
Currently, he was being troubled by countless gazes coming from the Dark Elves below. He didn’t need to speak to them to understand what these gazes meant.
Respect, fear, reverence. Their feelings practically took physical form as they stared at him.
‘Although they’ve been trapped in this continent for generations, they’ve still managed to grow considerably powerful. If the Forest Elves didn’t rely on the Nox’s blessing, they would’ve lost the war. Should I take them into the Sanctuary?’
Truthfully, Damien didn’t expect there to be this kind of conflict when he arrived. He was actually expecting to wipe all life on this continent and move on, assuming that there were only around a hundred thousand inhabitants on the continent.
But the number, in reality, turned out to be doubled. Now, he had a relatively large tribe of Dark Elves to deal with.
Putting them into the Sanctuary was fine, but he didn’t trust them at all, nor did he believe in their capabilities. He had no reason to take a random group of strangers as his subordinates.
But he couldn’t simply leave them here. Something in the core of his being told him that ignoring them entirely would reflect poorly on his growth.
‘Hmm, I’m not sure if it’s possible, but I can try to do that…using Apeiron’s mana reserves instead of mine should be able to accomplish it.’
Damien cracked his neck. It really was too much fun being able to pull off nonsensical feats due to his power as a Star Master.
If he wasn’t careful, he might even accidentally develop a God Complex.
‘Nah, there’s no way I’d become that cringe. I’m a grown-ass man now. Let’s just get on with it and be on my way.’
“Citizens of this unknown land, you who have resisted the temptation of devils even in the darkest of your days, I shall grant you an opportunity.
“Starting today, your continent will be connected to the mainland of this world. Whether your race dies out or adapts and becomes a powerhouse will only be up to your own determination. Persevere to the end if you desire to survive. I wish you good fortune in your coming endeavors.”
It was a concise speech, but Damien made sure to gain a great deal of face with his attitude. At the same time, his mind connected with Apeiron’s World Core.
[You are our master, so using our mana reserves as you please is a basic right. Even if you wish for us to form a corporeal body for your pleasure, we would comply. Please do not look down on our devotion to you.]
Damien scratched his cheek awkwardly. ‘I’ve gotten so used to Yun’s mannerisms that it feels weird talking to a World Core who has feelings. Still, don’t make jokes like that again or my wives will kill me.’
[We spoke with utmost seriousness. If the master wishes to copulate with us, we will do our best to satisfy your wishes. Also, the three mistresses are not able to hear our voice, so there is no problem there.]
Damien rubbed his forehead. ‘Alright, alright. Quit teasing me and lend me your mana.’
[Yes, master.]
Without warning, the ambient mana in the atmosphere began swirling around Damien’s body. This mana that belonged to no one was now completely under his control.
Damien concentrated his senses, spreading his awareness to cover the entire small continent. His spiritual energy wrapped around the continent’s borders like a claw.
“Warp.”
The ambient mana above the continent pressed down on it heavily. Within seconds, the entire landmass disappeared from Damien’s sight.
As he watched the seas churn in an attempt to fill the space left by the disappeared continent, he spoke to the World Core once more.
‘Has everything been settled properly?’
[The subcontinent has been docked on the shore of the mainland. No environmental problems were detected. The continent’s presence has been detected by the powerful existences of the mainland. They are moving to investigate as we speak.]
Damien nodded. ‘Good. As long as the world’s ecosystem hasn’t been damaged by my actions, it’s fine. As for those Dark Elves, everything from here on out depends on them.’
Spreading his control over the ambient mana again, Damien quickly stopped a forming tsunami. It was his fault that it formed, anyway, since the ocean only became so chaotic because he displaced the unknown continent.
‘I thought you said there were no environmental problems?’ He asked.
[There are now no environmental problems.]
Damien rolled his eyes. ‘Alright, I get it. Anyway, my work here is done.’