The regular races of Disboard pledged their loyalty to Setsuna one by one.
For intelligent and sapient lifeforms, seeking advantage and avoiding harm was instinct.
Compared to fighting over the Suniaster in a game where victory meant kingship and defeat meant complete erasure of the weak, submitting to another powerful civilization was, in some sense, easier to accept.
Leaders of the Dwarf, Fairy, and other races also signed treaties in succession.
"Hm?"
At last, Setsuna noticed Harbin and her group.
Several little girls stood beside her.
Their clothing style was bold and distinctive, somewhat resembling the classic "demon" image from adventure games, with bizarre creatures like three‑eyed snakes circling around them.
"If I remember correctly, the mission I gave you was to purge the Demonia. And this is?..."
"Commander, these are leaders of the Demonia, uh, also among the few in the entire race that possess intelligence and reason?"
Harbin thought for a moment.
"We carried out a large‑scale extermination of the Demonia across Disboard, eliminating all wild varieties that were overly dangerous or aggressive."
"While tracing the origin of the Demonia, we discovered that within the species there exist some higher humanoid individuals. Yes, that would be them."
"Oh?"
Setsuna glanced at the leading girl.
She had delicate features and a good figure. Most striking were her snake‑like vertical pupils, carrying a faintly evil aura.
She had a strong exotic charm.
"My name is Sheraha."
The Demonia officer introduced herself proactively.
"You're the Commander of the Starsea Empire? Ahem, if we hadn't lost to you, we never would have..."
"Oh right, I heard that joining the Starsea Empire means any of our demands can be satisfied?"
"?"
Harbin raised an eyebrow.
"What I told you was that, under the premise of following the Starsea Empire's laws, the Commander would fulfill your reasonable needs and ensure your race's survival and freedom."
"Are you adding your own conditions?"
"Same thing!!—"
Sheraha said carelessly.
"We want to destroy more worlds together and bring more suffering to other worlds and races, heh heh heh..."
"Stop."
Setsuna realized this Demonia girl probably wasn't very bright.
"We're civilized people. Conquest and destruction are different. Put away those strange ideas of yours."
"But we're demons. Isn't destroying worlds only natural?"
Sheraha tilted her head and asked.
"...Tripitaka."
Setsuna rubbed his forehead. The Heroic Spirit holding a monk's staff stepped forward two steps.
"Present, Master."
"Go give the Demonia some ideological education and make them act more normal."
"No problem!"
Tripitaka agreed happily.
She had an unusual enthusiasm for accepting disciples and guiding students.
Especially Demonia like these. Were they not literally monsters? Enlightening monsters from another world would be a great merit indeed.
Tripitaka seemed to see countless merits beckoning to her, each Demonia's head marked with numbers like merit +500 or merit +1000.
"Come, from now on you will become my disciples and cultivate alongside me."
She warmly greeted the Demonia girls.
"Do you need me to give you Dharma names? Hmm... Wukong, Wuneng, and Wujing are already taken. Let me think what to call you..."
"???"
"Where did this big‑boobed demon monk come from?!"
Sheraha was horrified.
She took two steps back, staring at Tripitaka with vigilance.
No matter how she looked at this long black‑haired beauty with a proud figure, she could not associate her with an enlightened monk.
"No, absolutely not!!"
"Who wants to listen to your nonsense?! Gods and Buddhas are all lies!!"
"Destruction! Death!! We are demons! Don't try to corrupt us!!"
"..."
"Quite stubborn, aren't you."
Tripitaka remained calm, smiling as she prepared to first correct their values.
"All things are impermanent. All dharmas lack self. Nothing remains unchanged forever. Since you have arrived here, you should..."
"Who wants to hear your preaching?! Go die!!!"
Sheraha used strange magic to attack Tripitaka.
Of course, it did not affect anyone else. She merely wanted to express dissatisfaction and declare to Setsuna that not just anyone was qualified to lecture the demon race.
Smack!—
Tripitaka blocked the attack with one hand.
Only then did the Demonia girls realize that the power contained within this girl was astonishingly vast, incomparable to ordinary humans.
"A bit rebellious?... Very well. The more unruly one is, the more they require enlightenment."
"This exists, therefore that exists. This arises, therefore that arises. This ceases, therefore that ceases..."
As Tripitaka chanted scriptures, faint radiance appeared around her.
Tilting her head back, one could vaguely see above the clouds behind her a deity seated upon a lotus throne.
Solemn and dignified, with an imposing aura.
"Noble Phantasm: Five Elements Mountain—Tathagata Palm!"
Whoosh—
A palm strike brushed past Sheraha's ear.
Her movements instantly froze as she stood there in a daze.
Boom!—
On a distant mountain, a massive palm imprint suddenly appeared. The mountain split apart, shattering completely in the blink of an eye.
Gulp—
The Demonia girls swallowed nervously. Even the Dragon Empery shipgirls were stunned.
"What is that? An anti‑monkey Noble Phantasm?!..."
"Amitabha. You Demonia must be guided with the compassion of the Buddha."
Tripitaka said calmly.
"If you do not wish to hear Buddhist teachings, I can also teach you some palm techniques."
...
After Tripitaka dragged the Demonia away for ideological education.
The other races completed the procedures one after another, while Angeloids headed across Disboard to take over each race.
The various leaders looked at one another aboard the Eternal Snowfall, trembling.
Incredible. They never dreamed that one day, the one to unify Disboard would be humans, whom they had once despised the most and who previously had almost no presence.
The species within the Starsea Empire were also entirely unfamiliar to them...
Shipgirls, Heroic Spirits, Spirits... these races were even more outrageous than the fifteen races of Disboard.
Swish—
Setsuna opened the holographic interface and checked the mission status for this operation.
"Mm..."
"Very good. Nearly all races have declared submission to us. The few stubborn holdouts have also been dealt with."
Aside from races with special modes of existence like the Elves and Phantasma, any intelligent species had either become subsidiaries of the Starsea Empire or turned into its spoils of war.
Only one objective remained.
"It's not over yet!"
Jibril poked her head forward and said.
"You... you still haven't defeated the Flügel, nor Lord Artosh!"
"Oh?"
Finding her amusing, Setsuna lifted Jibril and placed her on his lap.
"What? You think I can't beat them?"
"Mm..."
Jibril hesitated.
She had once greatly discriminated against humans, but after staying aboard the Eternal Snowfall for some time, she had glimpsed only the tip of the iceberg of the Starsea Empire's strength.
As the strongest "Extra Individual" among the Flügel, she could not even break through the defense of nanomachines, let alone others.
"It's different!"
After thinking for a moment, Jibril lifted her chin again.
"Two hundred of us once attacked together to challenge Lord Artosh, and we still failed to defeat him. Can you fight two hundred Flügel at once?"
Pfft—
Setsuna nearly laughed out loud.
He pinched Jibril's cheek, deliberately teasing her.
"What if I win?"
"Impossible. The God of War is the strongest existence in the world, the embodiment of the concept of war itself. No one is his opponent."
"His Heavenly Smite can pierce planets. It is far beyond what you can compare to."
Jibril answered seriously.
She studied every opponent she faced, searching for ways to defeat them. The Dragonia, the Gigants, and the God of War alike.
"Ha."
Setsuna and Grey beside him were even more amused.
"How about a bet? If you win, you can freely collect any materials from the Starsea Empire's Grand Library, and we'll grant you one additional request."
For Jibril, an "abnormal knowledge seeker," the attraction of collecting knowledge from an interdimensional empire was self‑evident. She agreed without hesitation.
"Alright. Then... then if I lose..."
After thinking it over, Jibril realized she had nothing of equal value to offer.
In the end, she steeled herself:
"If, if you win, I'll kneel down, lick your shoes, and obey any order you give!"
For the proud Flügel, this was essentially staking her personality and dignity as the wager.
"Oh my~"
Grey watched with a delighted expression, clearly enjoying the drama.
"So confident? But licking shoes is boring. How about we change it to another body part?"
"Huh?"
"Aaaahhhhhh—"
...
"Mm..."
"Next comes the final cleanup."
After settling matters for the other races, Setsuna stood up and cast his gaze toward the distant sky.
"Question: Is the Commander planning to challenge the god of the Flügel, the War God Artosh?"
Schwi looked up and asked.
"This unit can provide fire support for the Commander... but cannot analyze the combat power of either side."
"You scrap metal should save it."
Jibril said carelessly.
"There's no need for Lord Artosh. Any random Flügel could beat you into scrap. Who exactly are you supporting?"
"This unit is currently analyzing Starsea Empire technology. According to calculations, in an overclocked state, if the False Epigraphy of the Eternal Snowfall can be used, a Flügel legion can be easily defeated."
Schwi replied expressionlessly.
"Hah?"
"Even scrap metal dares to brag? I'll—"
Jibril originally wanted to teach Schwi a lesson, but unfortunately she was in loli form now and couldn't beat anyone.
She stomped her feet in anger.
"No need. Just behave yourself."
Setsuna rubbed Schwi's head.
Rumble—
Suddenly.
With almost no warning at all, an immense pressure surged from the horizon.
A vast, overwhelming aura enveloped the entirety of Disboard.
Dark clouds gradually gathered across the sky.
"Lord Artosh?!"
Jibril cried out in shock. She felt the divine power of the chief god, coming precisely from the direction of Avant Heim.
The towering eighteen-winged God of War rose from his throne. His magnificent projection loomed high above the clouds, gazing down upon everything below.
All life on Disboard shuddered, as though being watched by some supremely powerful existence.
Even though other races also had gods—the Dwarves' Forge God, the Elves' Forest God, the Fairies' God of Love—none of them were on the same level as the God of War.
He was the incarnation of war and slaughter, the undisputed strongest being on Disboard. Even if all races joined forces, they would not be able to withstand him for a single exchange.
Those who had just met Setsuna and led their entire races into the Starsea Empire immediately felt uneasy.
The God of War had stood up! That god who usually stayed in Avant Heim, uninterested in war, was personally entering the fray!
Only by defeating the God of War could Disboard truly be considered conquered.
Now that they belonged to the Starsea Empire, victory would be fine—but if the Empire lost, they would certainly be purged by the Flügel.
Those bloodthirsty Death Angels were far less reasonable than the Starsea Empire.
"Oh—"
The shipgirls and other squads also raised their heads, gazing at the god above the clouds.
"Human, I am waiting for you."
The God of War's deep voice crossed thousands of kilometers, resounding clearly across the land.
His gaze fell upon Setsuna.
By instinct alone, Artosh judged that this man was quite powerful—not merely a politician who relied on schemes.
"What is your purpose in coming here?"
"To conquer this entire world and bring Disboard into the Empire's territory. You are the last one."
Setsuna replied calmly.
"I assume you have no intention of surrendering?"
"Hey!"
Azriel frowned atop the clouds.
"A mere human dares to talk about making us surrender?!"
She subconsciously gathered power, intending to give Setsuna a lesson.
"Heh—"
A faint chuckle seemed to echo in the sky.
Artosh raised his hand, stopping Azriel.
To make the God of War submit to the might of the Starsea Empire like the other races?
Naturally impossible. As the embodiment of the concept of war, he had never entertained the notion of surrender. He only desired battles worthy of his strength.
"An ambitious conqueror..."
Artosh put away his initial disdain and spoke with solemn authority:
"If you can give me the battle I desire, I will grant you everything you seek."
"Otherwise, you—and all the races loyal to you—will cease to exist."
"Hiss—"
Syncnill, Sheraha, and the others, as well as the humans in the settlement, all shuddered again.
If Setsuna's conquest of the world was 95% complete, the God of War was the remaining 5%. If he wasn't dealt with, all previous efforts would be wasted.
The battle between the strongest would decide the fate of the entire world.
"..."
Setsuna paused, then sighed softly.
In a sense, the God of War was also someone obsessed with battle.
He remained seated on his throne simply because there were no worthy opponents on Disboard, leaving him bored.
Throughout the Starsea Empire's conquest, Artosh had stayed quietly in the heavens, never interfering.
His sole desire was to have one final, satisfying battle.
"Very well. I will fight you with everything I have and grant you honor befitting a God of War."
...
After the leaders of two worlds exchanged brief words and agreed upon the location and time of the final duel.
Artosh returned to his seat, satisfied.
A faint trace of excitement and anticipation appeared on his once-stern face as he sat upon the throne, seemingly deep in thought.
The God of War's strength overwhelmed all others, but that did not make him a brute.
He analyzed his upcoming opponent within his mind.
"Space warships similar to those of the Dwarves?"
He had noticed that Setsuna usually stayed aboard that vessel. It was much larger than the Dwarves' ships, but Artosh did not care.
"Lord Artosh, this..."
Azriel stepped forward.
Though she had complete confidence in the God of War's strength, she still felt uneasy.
"Is there anything we need to do? Deal with the others of the Starsea Empire? In case—"
"No."
Artosh rejected the suggestion outright.
He could not tolerate the long-awaited battle being disturbed by any external force.
"Listen well, Azriel—and all Flügel."
Swish—
All Flügel gathered together, standing respectfully before the God of War to receive his final command.
"If someone defeats me, then you will follow him. Understand and seek the reason and power behind his strength."
"If he is defeated by me, then eliminate all who remain and hang their heads here."
Artosh's reasoning was simple.
Anyone capable of defeating him was worthy. Having the Flügel follow a stronger power was only natural.
If he could not win...
Then he was nothing but a worthless insect and a clown courting attention—someone to be utterly destroyed, left to rot into dust and soil.
"But..."
Azriel tried to argue further.
"This is an order."
"...Yes."
"Also, isn't Jibril having quite a good time over there?"
That single sentence nearly choked Azriel.
Looking downward, Jibril was being teased like a mascot by shipgirls and Angeloids.
The proud strongest Exceptional Unit of the Flügel had fallen to this state.
"Tsk—"
"Disgraceful!"