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Chapter 747   Nothing Unites People Faster Than Tragedy and Fear

"Oh my god," Rosemary muttered as she watched the different footage of the ongoing fight. The Empire had made sure to keep its citizens informed, sparing none of the details, yet implementing various filters based on the viewer’s age and preferences. This allowed people to tailor their experience—those squeamish about blood wouldn’t see it, or would see it in a color other than the familiar red. Children were restricted to distant, animated representations of the battle, keeping them shielded from the brutality. And for those who wanted to see the unfiltered reality, every moment unfolded in its raw, true form.

"But was our military *this* strong?" Rosemary asked her husband, her voice tinged with disbelief as she stared at the screen.

Lucas, sitting beside her in the comfort of their home, remained calm as he watched the ongoing broadcast. "Well, it’s not like we\'ve had a situation to see the full extent of our military’s might until now," he said thoughtfully. "Before this, all we had were reports and assurances, which don’t really convince most people. But you have to remember, the Empire was formed *because* of the discovery of that oncoming alien fleet. If they couldn\'t stop them, the Empire would’ve failed at its very purpose. So, they over-prepared—and it looks like they’re making good on that promise."

He glanced at his wife, still wide-eyed in awe, as he continued, "It’s the first real test for them, so they’re pulling out all the stops."

As they continued watching, the live streams played out almost like a blockbuster movie. The director behind the scenes wasn’t a human but an advanced AI, carefully orchestrating every angle, every shot. It ensured that everything critical was visible to the public, while strategically omitting anything that might benefit the enemy if they somehow breached the Empire’s network. The result was an intensely engaging experience, keeping viewers absorbed in the spectacle unfolding before them.

For many, this constant stream of action served as a strange comfort. Despite the fact that their world was at war, the absence of any immediate danger in their surroundings made it easy to detach. There were no bomb sirens, no tremors shaking their homes, just footage on a screen. In the absence of physical sensations of war, their minds treated it like another thrilling piece of entertainment. "Out of sight, out of mind," as the saying goes.

The AI, in a way, was doing more than just broadcasting—it was keeping the population calm, keeping fear at bay by wrapping the brutal reality of battle in the familiarity of cinematic storytelling.

Beyond its role in calming the populace, the broadcast also served as a powerful unifying force for humanity. With the looming external threat, people finally found the common enemy they had long speculated about—one that transcended national borders, ideologies, and differences. The realization that they were all in this together, that the rest of the galaxy seemed intent on either killing or enslaving them, had an undeniable effect.

The empire had chosen to fully exploit the situation, knowing that while they could likely have avoided the confrontation, doing so would have required a series of humiliating compromises. Allowing the Astral Conclave\'s forces to enter their star system and conduct searches for the so-called mana stones would have meant submitting to invasive inspections. Worse yet, such an act might expose their advanced technologies and humanity\'s unique ability to awaken, likely provoking greed among the Conclave’s factions. This could lead to even greater threats, as the various civilizations might turn their attention to fighting over Earth\'s assets, leaving the empire powerless to resist.

Rather than risk such an outcome, the empire decided it was better to fight from the start. The reasoning was simple: like dealing with a bully, showing submission would only invite more trouble, whereas standing their ground from day one might make the enemy think twice. This approach resonated with many of the empire\'s citizens who were watching the broadcasts on Earth. From their perspective, the plan seemed to be working as intended. The military\'s might was on full display, and the situation appeared manageable—as long as no unforeseen complications arose.

While the sentiment on Earth was one of cautious hope, the mood in Proxima Centauri was one of unwavering confidence. The Proximian citizens weren’t the least bit worried about the empire losing the battle. Their trust in the empire was absolute, built upon the belief that even in the highly unlikely event of a loss, they were fully prepared to assist, no matter how long it would take to reach the solar system.

Had it not been for the vast distance between the two systems and the long journey required, the Proximians might have been demanding to join the fight immediately. Though not everyone in Proxima was a soldier, every citizen had been taught to use magic in at least its basic form, ensuring that no one was completely helpless in a crisis. They were also confident that their elders—respected and wise, minus the traitor—would find a way to contribute to the war effort, even if the exact method remained unclear to them. This combination of skill, preparation, and deep-rooted faith in the empire’s strength kept any sense of panic at bay.

……………..

Battlefield.

Despite three relentless days of fighting, nothing seemed to change. Both sides appeared confident that the other would run out of either weapons or soldiers first. However, it was the sheer number of soldiers on the empire\'s side that caused growing unease among the Conclave civilizations. Each time they successfully eliminated a wave of attackers, more would follow, seemingly endless and with even greater vigor than the last.

What unnerved the Conclave forces most was the unshakable enthusiasm these imperial soldiers displayed. It was as if they had no regard for their own lives, charging forward without hesitation.

The smaller civilizations and organizations that had allied with each other for a piece at the table were bearing the brunt of the empire\'s relentless assault. Many of them had already lost a significant number of ships to these fearless imperial soldiers. Even in cases where they managed to clear their vessels of the invaders, their ships were often left in a severely damaged state. Frequently, they were forced to decouple sections of their ships to prevent the soldiers, who were swiftly advancing toward control rooms, from taking over completely. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

The insanity of these imperial troops didn’t stop there. In instances where they did gain control of a ship but couldn\'t use it to attack their foes, they would simply blow it up, ensuring that the Conclave forces couldn’t reclaim or reuse it. The empire\'s soldiers showed a terrifying disregard for life—both their own and their enemies—and they made it clear that, if they couldn’t win, they would take their opponents down with them.

The only factions managing to hold their ground amidst the chaos were the top ten civilizations, each of whom employed their own advanced methods for dealing with the relentless breachers. While they did lose a few smaller ships, these losses were inconsequential compared to the devastating damage they had taken during the initial attack, which had been five times worse. This was why they were determined to hold out; they needed to annihilate the enemy and secure their hands on the true prize.

The true prize was no longer the mana stones they had originally come for. Now, their focus had shifted to the empire’s technology, which was even more valuable. The ability to create black holes at will was an equilibrium-shattering power, a force that could be used to coerce or dominate others with little resistance. This technology held a significance comparable to the wormhole tech once pioneered by the Trinarians, a discovery that had rewritten the balance of power across the galaxy. Gaining control of such a weapon would make them unstoppable, allowing them to secure anything they desired without fear of opposition.