99: Ten wins and ten losses

While the hundreds of trillions of citizens of the Human Federation were still immersed in the joy of the 100,000-year celebration and their beautiful wishes for the future... the border Star Domain of Blood Blade Star, adjacent to the Tristan Empire, presented a completely different scene... There was no celebration, no cheers, only an almost solidified, extremely oppressive aura of destruction!

A tide of dark matter, as if corporeal, submerged this vast starry sky... Here, the light of the stars was obscured, and the cosmic background radiation was twisted.

As far as the eye could see, there was a wall of destruction formed by the Empire's proud bio-warships.

They were not streamlined, technologically aesthetic creations like Federation starships, but rather grotesque behemoths seemingly cast directly from a purgatorial furnace!

Their hulls were made of dark red active bio-metal, their surfaces covered with twisted spikes and constantly opening and closing muzzles!

They slowly writhed like living creatures, emitting a pungent odor of sulfur mixed with high-temperature plasma!

Their scale was not measured in 'thousands' or 'tens of thousands', but in billions!!!

They hovered silently in the Void Realm with millisecond precision in synchronization... like a swarm of bloodthirsty locusts covering the entire Star Domain!

The cold metallic luster merged into one, forming a death curtain stretching hundreds of millions of kilometers!

At the core of this destructive fleet was the pride of the Empire, the flagship "abyssal roar".

It was not an enlarged version of an ordinary warship; its shape was more like a mobile palace floating in the sea of stars, constructed from dark red crystal marrow and unknown bone-like biological Materials, comparable in size to a small planet!

Countless thick energy pipelines pulsed like the blood vessels of a giant Dragon!

On the hull, transporting the almost inexhaustible destructive energy from the core furnace to the millions of "Star Incinerator Cannons" and "Disintegration Ray Arrays" spread across the ship.

Its mere existence, and the energy fluctuations it emitted, were enough to make ordinary Planet-level Experts' minds waver.

At this moment, in the deepest command hall of the "abyssal roar", the atmosphere had already climbed to a critical breaking point.

Unlike the solemnity of the Federation's Jingsi Hall, this place was more like an altar dedicated to war and destruction.

A simulated, dying Stellar Level, constantly collapsing inward and emitting an ominous red light, hung high in the dome of the hall, casting a blood-red filter over everything.

The air was scorching, carrying the scent of sulfur and ozone... This was an anomaly formed by the interweaving energy fields naturally emitted by over two thousand Stellar-level Experts who had reached a profound Realm in their Cultivation of the "Molten Core Art".

They, the pillars of the Empire, now stood solemnly on both sides of the hall, like destructive demon gods awaiting inspection.

Their forms varied: some were shrouded in energy tentacles, eerie and unpredictable; others had Laws of blazing flames, ice, and lightning circulating on their bodies... But without exception, their gazes towards the throne were filled with almost fanatical reverence and Battle Intent on the verge of erupting.

And the aura of everyone was like a fuse burning to its end, tightly suppressed, awaiting only the final command.

Upon the throne sat the sole Dominator of this starry sky, this destructive army—Empress Aisara Tristan, the Crimson Blood Empress!

Today, she was not wearing her elaborate imperial gown; instead, she wore a form-fitting and ferocious dark red bio-armor.

The armor seemed to merge with her graceful yet powerful physique, outlining breathtaking curves, with fiery gold patterns flowing like molten lava along its edges.

Behind her, a cloak woven from pure shadow and flame energy moved without wind... slowly swaying like a living thing, exuding a Soul-freezing pressure!

Her crimson hair was no longer unbound but was tied up high by a crown polished from the skull of an unknown star beast and inlaid with dark red crystal marrow, revealing her exquisite yet aggressive and destructive face.

As her dark golden Phoenix eyes opened and closed, supernovae seemed to erupt continuously in their depths!

Wherever her gaze fell, space subtly twisted, and the scorching aura made even the Stellar-level Experts standing a little closer feel a stinging sensation on their skin!

She did not speak, merely tapped the armrest of the throne rhythmically and lightly with the tip of her index finger of her right hand, which was gloved in dark metallic... "Knock... knock... knock..."

Each soft tap seemed to strike directly at the hearts of all the Experts in the hall, subtly resonating with the low hum of countless overloaded warship engines within the Empire's territory.

She was waiting.

Waiting for the moment determined by the Law of the Universe, by cold numbers.

Waiting for that tumultuous Star Domain, about to meet its end, to turn its final page of 100,000 years.

Finally—

When the hands of the clock, perceived precisely by her powerful Divine Thought, crossed that invisible mark... Star Calendar Year 100,000, zero hour, zero minute, zero second!

It's time!!!

"Boom—!!!!"

An indescribable, immense killing intent, suppressed for tens of thousands of years, erupted from Empress Aisara's seemingly slender body like a silent Star Domain, dormant for billions of years, suddenly ignited!

It seemed to transform into a gamma-ray burst sweeping everything, bursting forth from Empress Aisara's seemingly slender body!

Her hand stopped tapping the armrest.

Instead, her right hand, gloved in dark gold, clenched into a fist!

"Rumble!!!"

The entire "abyssal roar" command hall, and even the vast Imperial fleet outside, all energy readings simultaneously surged at this instant, and piercing alarms were drowned out by an even more violent roar of energy!

Empress Aisara slowly rose from the throne.

In that instant, she was no longer a seated Emperor, but transformed into a destructive Phoenix, spreading its wings to cover the sky, about to pounce on its prey!

In her dark golden eyes, the last trace of human emotion was completely extinguished, leaving only pure, bone-chilling killing intent capable of incinerating star rivers, and... a triumphant satisfaction of having her wish fulfilled and trampling her nemesis!

"One second..."

Her voice rang out, no longer having any texture, but transforming into a roar as if from the first flame of destruction at the dawn of the Universe, clearly and unequivocally reaching the Soul of every Stellar Level Expert present, and even, through encrypted channels, every captain and soldier on the Imperial front line!

"I cannot wait another second!!!!!"

She suddenly raised her arm, pointing at the Star Domain marked "Human Federation" on the star map, which in her eyes was as disgusting as decaying flesh!

"Empire! Patience! Has reached its limit!"

"Revenge! The time! Is now!"

"Yun Xi—is dead!!!!!"

She declared emphatically, as if stating an undeniable cosmic truth.

"The 100,000-year limit! An iron Law of the Universe! Even if she was extraordinarily talented, even if her Law of Space reached the heavens! It is absolutely impossible for her to resist! At this moment, she must have turned into cosmic dust, along with her ridiculous belief, which she upheld for 100,000 years, all vanishing into thin air!"

Her voice carried an extreme exhilaration of impending revenge and an unparalleled sense of superiority, standing atop the bones of her nemesis!

"Without Yun Xi, the Human Federation is nothing but a headless fly, a scattered mess! A flock of lambs to be slaughtered!"

"What Innate Moon Body? It's merely a flash in the pan! In the face of the Empire's profound heritage of over 900,000 years, in the face of my glorious military might, all are mere earthen chickens and dogs, utterly vulnerable!"

Empress Aisara's gaze, like two burning Sharp Weapons, swept over the Empire's Experts below, who were trembling with excitement. Her voice suddenly rose, carrying the Emperor's resolve and unquestionable will:

"Transmit my decree!"

"In the name of the eleventh monarch of the Empire, Essara Tristan!"

"This war is the most important conquest in the Empire's history of over 900,000 years since its founding! It is the culmination of washing away the humiliation of ten thousand years ago! It is the first step for the Empire to advance into the star arm!"

"After the success of this war, I shall open a separate volume in the Imperial Annals for today! For this war! —The 'Annals of Essara'!!!"

"The Annals of Essara!!!" The two thousand Stellar-level Experts below roared in unison, their voices mixing with immense energy, almost tearing off the dome of the hall!

Every Imperial Expert's face was filled with uncontrollable fanaticism and excitement.

To establish a separate Imperial Chronicle!

What an honor!

This meant that everything they did today would be etched onto the most glorious historical monument of the Empire, to be praised for ten thousand generations!

Empress Aisara was very satisfied with the reaction of her subjects. She slightly raised her hand, quieting the surging voices.

Her gaze turned to an old man standing at the forefront of the officials, dressed in an ancient scholar's robe, his aura as profound as the sea.

"Minister Aolong." Her voice returned to its usual majesty, but the killing intent remained sharp. "Inform the entire army of your deduction. Let the Empire's warriors understand what a glorious and absolutely victorious path they are about to embark on!"

The one named was precisely the Dean of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, a Stellar Level high-level Expert known for his wisdom, prudence, and strategic vision—Aolong, the Star Diviner.

Upon hearing this, Aolong stepped forward. In his eyes, which seemed capable of discerning the rise and fall of civilizations, a brilliant light of wisdom now flickered.

He first bowed deeply to the Empress, then turned to the generals in the hall, and all high-ranking commanders connected via holographic link.

He didn't speak immediately but gently waved his hand.

Immense Mental Energy surged, constructing an extremely detailed and contrasting strategic situation map in the center of the hall.

On the left, marked [Tristan Empire], its territory is vast, its foundation is profound, and all its data indicators are soaring like burning flames.

On the right is the [Human Federation] after losing Yun Xi; its data is dim, flickering precariously like a candle in the wind.

"Your Majesty, esteemed colleagues." Aolong's voice was calm yet penetrating, carrying the meticulousness unique to a scholar, yet filled with undeniable confidence.

"Based on this old man's observations, data collection, and strategic deductions over tens of thousands of years regarding both our side and the enemy's, a clear conclusion can be drawn: In this war, the Empire holds ten victories, and the Federation faces ten defeats!"

He extended a finger and pointed at the strategic map:

"First, the victory or defeat of National Power!"

"The Empire was founded over nine hundred thousand years ago. Its territory is vast, its resources are endless, and its civilizational foundation is unfathomably deep! It is like a deeply rooted ancient Star Tree, unshakable by wind or rain!"

"The Federation was founded only a hundred thousand years ago, its territory is less than one-tenth of the Empire's, its resources are relatively scarce, and its civilizational accumulation is shallow! It relied entirely on Yun Xi for support! Now that Yun Xi is gone, its national power is like rootless duckweed, destined to collapse instantly! This is the first victory and the first defeat!"

"Second, the victory or defeat of Leadership!"

"Your Majesty is in the prime of life, possessing great talent and strategy, and her cultivation has reached the Stellar Level Peak. She commands the Empire, and the masses are devoted to her! She is like the midday sun, radiating Radiance across the Star Sea!"

"The Federation's Yun Xi is dead, leaving the masses leaderless! Although Venerable Yuehua is strong, she is only High Stellar Level, elderly, and conservative, making her not worth fearing! Figures like Qin Pojun and Luo Mie are merely dry bones in a tomb, each harboring selfish motives! The Federation no longer has anyone who possesses Your Majesty's prestige and courage! This is the second victory and the second defeat!"

"Third, the victory or defeat of Military Strength!"

"The Empire's Standing Legions, tempered by successive monarchs, are unparalleled in bravery. Warships are like clouds, and Experts are like rain! There are nearly two thousand one hundred Stellar-level Experts! Furthermore, we possess war Sharp Weapons like the 'Abyssal Class' Warships!"

"The Federation's military strength is weak, and its warship technology lags behind our Empire by at least one generation! There are only over three hundred Stellar-level Experts, most of whom are newly advanced and lack experience in bloody battles! How can Xuanji, a mere woman, block the iron torrent of our Empire?! This is the third victory and the third defeat!"

"Fourth, the victory or defeat of Technology!"

"Under this old man's leadership, the Empire's Academy of Sciences has continually innovated, producing Fusion Core Technology, Biological Warships, and Spatial Interceptors... the innovations are endless! Our technology tree is comprehensively ahead!"

"The Federation's Mo Heng is nothing but a pedantic scholar, working in isolation. Most of his technology originates from clumsy imitation of ancient civilization ruins, lacking innovation and offering low combat effectiveness! This is the fourth victory and the fourth defeat!"

"Fifth, the victory or defeat of Morale!"

"The Empire's soldiers have been suppressed for tens of thousands of years, and the flames of vengeance have long spread across the Star Sea! Now that Your Majesty is personally leading the campaign, morale is soaring like a rainbow, unstoppable! Everyone strives to be first, everyone fights bravely!"

"Having lost its spiritual pillar, panic is bound to spread internally within the Federation. Morale is low, and they will be timid before the battle even begins! Even if there is resistance, it will be scattered courage, unable to withstand a single blow! This is the fifth victory and the fifth defeat!"

"Sixth, the victory or defeat of Foundation!"

"Over nine hundred thousand years of accumulation, the Empire possesses countless Secret Treasures, sealed Forbidden Weapons, and the ultimate trump cards left by numerous former Emperors! The depth of our foundation is unimaginable to the Federation!"

"In the Federation's mere hundred thousand years, how many presentable foundations could they possibly have? Nothing more than a few Spatial Secret Treasures left behind by Yun Xi. Now that their owner is deceased, their power is less than one-tenth of what it was! This is the sixth victory and the sixth defeat!"

"Seventh, the victory or defeat of System Structure!"

"The Empire implements centralized power, where Your Majesty's will is absolute, commands are followed strictly, and efficiency is extremely high! It is like moving one's own arm and fingers!"

"The Federation claims to have a democratic council, but in reality, factions abound, bureaucracy is rampant, and efficiency is low! Facing this crisis, with Yun Xi dead, incessant quarrels are inevitable, leaving them leaderless and unable to form a unified and effective resistance force! This is the seventh victory and the seventh defeat!"

"Eighth, the victory or defeat of Bloodline!"

"The Imperial Royal Family inherits the Tristan Valor Bloodline. All male imperial relatives are heroes capable of managing three thousand women daily! The females also proactively engage men! They exhaust their minds and bodies! Every monarch throughout history has been an outstanding talent! Your Majesty is an unprecedented genius rarely seen through the ages!"

"The Human Race of the Federation has mediocre Bloodlines. Fortunately, they had the so-called Innate Moon Body, but it was merely a fleeting phenomenon, lacking the Legacy and accumulation of truly noble Bloodlines! This is the eighth victory and the eighth defeat!"

"Ninth, the victory or defeat of Heaven's Mandate!"

"The Empire's destiny is long-lasting, surging like a river of stars, unstoppable! This war is in accordance with Heaven's Mandate, fulfilling the great undertaking of unifying the Peripheral Star Domain of the Azure Dome Arm!"

"The Federation's destiny has run out! Yun Xi's death is clear evidence of the end of their Heaven's Mandate! Those who act Heaven-Defying will surely incur the wrath of heaven! This is the ninth victory and the ninth defeat!"

"Tenth, the victory or defeat of Willpower!"

"Your Majesty's Willpower is as firm as a stellar core, and as sharp as a supernova explosion! Everyone in the Empire obeys Your Majesty's command, and the will to destroy the Federation is unwavering!"

"The Federation has lost its core, its Willpower is scattered. Many seek to live ignobly, few are willing to sacrifice themselves for righteousness! Their will to resist will surely melt away before the Empire's glorious military might! This is the tenth victory and the tenth defeat!"

Every time Aolong stated a victory and a defeat, the data comparison on the strategic map before him became starker.

The Empire's side shone brilliantly, while the Federation's side was dim... When he waved his hand for the tenth time, delivering his final judgment, the breathing of the Empire's Experts throughout the great hall became heavy as oxen, and the Battle Intent in their eyes nearly solidified into flames bursting forth!

"With these ten victories and ten defeats!" Aolong's voice echoed through the great hall like a final judgment, "The Federation's defeat is already set! It is today! It is this moment!"

"Wherever the Empire's great army advances, it will surely sweep away the rotten and break through like split bamboo!"

"The Federation's territory is destined to become the most brilliant Star Domain on the Empire's new map!"

"Your Majesty's great undertaking will surely shine for ten thousand ages, and the name of the 'Annals of Essara' will certainly resound throughout the Universe!"

"Good!!!" Empress Aisara let out a hearty cry of admiration, her dark golden eyes burning with a wildfire capable of consuming the Star Sea.

"The words of Lord Aolong deeply please Us! They are also the voice of the Empire's countless soldiers!"

She raised her arm again. This time, instead of pointing at the star map, she swung it sharply forward, like wielding a Sharp Weapon aimed at the enemy's head!

"Empire! All forces—Attack!!!"

"Target! The Federation's Capital Star—Kunlun Star!!!"

"Crush them!!!!!"

"For the Empire! For Your Majesty! For the 'Annals of Essara'!!!" Two thousand Stellar-level Experts roared in unison, shattering the starry Void Realm like ignited explosives!

The command, like ripples of destruction, instantly spread throughout the Empire's massive war machine at speeds exceeding the speed of light.

The flagship "abyssal roar" was the first to erupt with a beam of energy light that tore through the Void Realm. The massive hull began to move slowly forward, like an awakened, world-destroying behemoth.

Behind it, the engines of a billion Imperial warships simultaneously overloaded, spewing dark red destructive exhaust flames, as if countless ominous stars had been ignited at once.

They transformed into a moving, burning Star Sea, surging toward the Federation's territory like a tide of destruction!

The floodgates of war burst open with a crash!

...Meanwhile, at the forefront of the Federation's territory, the military stronghold directly facing the Empire's sharp edge—Blood Blade Star.

This was originally a planet rich in Rare Energy Crystal Ores, which the Federation had transformed into a massive, unyielding Interstellar Fortress.

The planet's surface was covered with dense anti-aircraft turrets, Planetary Level Energy Shield Generators, and deeply buried underground Command Centers.

Its strategic position was equivalent to the Federation's hardest shield against the Empire.

At this moment, inside the underground core Command Center of Blood Blade Star, the atmosphere was as heavy as solid nitrogen ice.

On the gigantic holographic star map, the despair-inducing red torrent representing the Imperial fleet was visibly devouring the blank areas of the map, surging toward Blood Blade Star.

The sheer scale and intense energy reaction caused all the technical officers in the Command Center to turn pale, their uniforms soaked with cold sweat.

The one responsible for guarding this place was Luo Mie, a High Stellar Level Expert from the Federation Military Department, known for his bravery and fiery temper—the [Blazing Lord]!

He was a burly middle-aged man, wearing a crisp Federation Marshal's uniform, the star emblem on his epaulets representing the Stellar Level shining brightly.

He had short, fiery red hair, a resolute face, and eyes as sharp as an eagle's.

At this moment, he was staring intently at the constantly approaching red tide of death on the star map!

The scorching energy unconsciously radiating from his body significantly raised the temperature inside the Command Center, causing the air to slightly warp.

Just a minute ago, his holographic projection was still waiting for the 100,000-Year Celebration to arrive... Luo Mie took a deep, deep breath, as if trying to inhale all the air in the Command Center—which was mixed with fear, sweat, and the smell of metal—into his lungs.

Then, he abruptly opened his eyes, which glowed with the heat of molten lava.

He looked at the officers in the Command Center, whose gaze was filled with determination, fear, and anticipation. His voice was hoarse and low, yet carried an undeniable power:

"Issue the order!"

"To all combat units in the Blood Blade Star Federation War Zone!"

"Execute the 'Final Bulwark' contingency plan!"

"You shall hold fast and wait for reinforcements!"

And Luo Mie's gaze had already penetrated the thick alloy walls, cast toward the starry sky about to be stained red by the fires of war...