[It is good that you have realized that your time is incredibly short.]

[There is no room for caution.]

[There is no room to worry about the morality of your actions. There is no room to consider that what you’re doing might be wrong in the eyes of others.]

[You must ascend.]

[If you don’t rise, everything else will fall. An uncountably infinite number of living beings will continue to participate in the Convergence, across an uncountably infinite number of infinite universes.]

Withstanding the panging pain, Liam latched on to an important piece of information.

“Infinite… What?”

[Currently, you are unable to notice. Soon, that will no longer be the case and you will see.]

[We are entities that transcend something like infinity on every level. Naturally, the First Star is also capable of doing so.]

[Using its powers, the First Star created an uncountably infinite number of infinite universes, populating them with a myriad of intelligent species.]

It meant that the amount of suffering and death that the Creator was responsible for was, quite literally, infinite. Liam’s eyes darkened as his hatred deepened.

[Your Convergence isn’t the only one. It is not the first, and it won’t be the last unless you do something about it.]

[The number of Convergences happening simultaneously is, as you might expect, infinite.]

Liam gritted his teeth. He already somewhat expected his Convergence not to be the only one, but the confirmation still hit him hard. To think that it was only one among countless, however, was a different story. He once again realized the scope of the Creator’s power surpassed his very imagination.

“What should… I do… To grow the fastest…way possible?”

Grunting through the pain, Liam asked the most relevant question for him right now.

[The plan you have elaborated will work, but it is not good enough.]

[You must fight. You must struggle. You must walk on the very edge of death if you want to have any hope of succeeding.]

[If having your body destroyed no longer kills you, then destroy it as many times as it takes.]

[If you have to kill in order to develop, then kill as many as you can.]

[Because the amount of blood on your hands will forever remain infinitesimal compared to the one on the First Star’s.]

[Isn’t that what you’re most worried about?]

[If that is what drives you forward, then never forget it. Remember it during every waking moment.]

[Rise.]

Their time was over. With those parting words, the voices’ presence slowly retreated to the depths of Liam’s soul, somewhere away from his perception. Even so, they did not leave him with only advice. As usual, their words also conveyed the arcane knowledge of Chaos and Order to him, improving his mastery by just a bit. As of this moment, it was also Liam’s only way to develop those abilities. He was still far too weak to even begin to comprehend them. He could only be forcefully fed knowledge by the entities, even though it wasn’t truly the same as understanding it. In a way, it was the difference between memorizing a math formula and coming up with a new one on one’s own.

Liam heaved, gradually getting used to the pain and controlling himself. The voices reminded him of what he was fighting for. That’s right. It wasn’t just for his own sake or the sake of his loved ones, or even for the sake of humanity as a whole. It was for the sake of every living being to have ever existed or that would exist. Past, present, and future. Liam fought for those throughout all of time.

Without losing his concentration, Liam focused on recovering. He would head out immediately once he attained his peak condition. There was no time to waste. Steadying his breathing, he circulated his Aura and felt every corner of his body with his perception. Honing his technique had also improved his bodily control to a frightening degree. He felt as if he were very close to a breakthrough. It was the result of his talent, in addition to a high Perception and a level of hard work that wasn’t humanly possible. Not a single second had gone to waste, except for the time he was unconscious after withstanding the enemy commander’s attack and regenerating his body from nothingness.

Soon, Liam left the training room. His Aura was at peak capacity while his bodily awareness was at its very peak. His mind was sharp as a blade, his sheer focus and will were reaching their apex.

As of this moment, except for when he resorted to using Chaos and Order, Liam was stronger than he had ever been.

‘It’s time.’

He immediately pulled out his Communicator and used Aura Sight, trying to identify One’s position. As the Drakkhan wasn’t within his Sight’s range, he was forced to call him, who soon picked up.

“Liam. Did something happen?”

“No, but there’s something I need to talk to you about. Where are you?”

“Meet me at the main meeting room.”

“Alright. Bring Twelve with you, if you can.”

Without allowing the lizardman to ask any questions, Liam cut off the connection, speeding towards his destination. He ignored all of those in his way, uncaring if they noticed him or not. Naturally, it was unlikely, since even though he was moving casually, his speed was nothing to scoff at.

Two minutes later, he reached the entrance of the main meeting room. Opening the doors and heading inside, he found two Drakkhan talking to each other. Their gazes were drawn to him as he came in.

One spoke with a confused expression.

“I did as you asked, so it better be worth it. By the way, aren’t you getting too used to ordering me around?”

Twelve chuckled, remaining silent. It seemed like he had chosen not to say anything until he heard what Liam had to say. However, as if affected by the young man’s serious demeanor, the two lizardmen’s expressions turned stern as well. Liam’s voice echoed in the room.

“First, I’d like you please request that you two relay what I’m about to say to as many Elite Captains as you can, preferably to all of them, if there’s a way to do so.”

The two Drakkhan glanced at each other. One was once more the one to speak, his voice taking on a certain edge as he started to realize the seriousness of the situation.

“Very well. What is the matter?”

Liam took a deep breath, slightly widening the distance between his feet and standing straight as a spear. Putting both hands behind his back, he spoke with a voice empowered by Aura.

“This is a formal request as humanity’s leader. I will soon be heading into Cinzolia with the goal of killing as many soldiers as possible. I request backup from the Drakkhan Empire’s army, no matter their number.”

“What?!”

Unable to keep his composure, One practically yelled at the youth. Still maintaining the grave atmosphere, Liam replied calmly.

“I understand what your concerns might be, but I ask that you do not try to change my mind. It would be pointless.”

“Why the hell are you saying something like that now?! There’s absolutely no need to go into Cinzolia right now!”

“No, there is.”

With an exasperated and dumbfounded countenance, One stared at him. Noticing that his comrade was in no condition to properly continue the conversation, Twelve spoke in his place.

“And what need would that be?”

Liam frowned.

“I’m running out of time.”

“…Running out of time, you say. One might have told you before, but we have over four more years before the deadline of Cinzolia’s conquest. Why are you trying to recklessly speed up the process, endangering not only your own life but the life of our soldiers as well?”

“I didn’t say our army was running out of time, I said that I was. I apologize for shamelessly asking for your support, but if you don’t want to do it, so be it. I will head to Cinzolia alone.”

Twelve stared deeply into Liam’s firm eyes as One’s gaze went from one of them to the other repeatedly. The Drakkhan yelled again.

“Alone?! You cannot be serious! Cinzolia still has over a hundred thousand Elite Captains and over 1.5 billion troops and you want to go there alone?!”

“As I said… I have no choice. I’m out of time.”

Just before One was about to yell again, Twelve held his shoulder and spoke with a low voice.

“Very well. I’m sure you have your circumstances. However, I cannot guarantee you’ll receive any support from us. In fact, I am against it. I do not wish to lose any soldiers in a crazy endeavor.”

Liam nodded.

“I only ask that you tell the other Captains of what I’m going to do, then.”

“I can do that, at least.”

The youth looked at One, waiting for his words. The Drakkhan gritted his teeth and, still with a flabbergasted expression, hesitatingly nodded. It seemed that he had realized that Liam wouldn’t be easily convinced. With a nod, Liam left the room, leaving behind the two Drakkhan. He had no time to consider their opinion of him now.