A month had passed since the Penacony incident ended.
The Dreammaster was dead. Sunday had vanished.
The Family had paid a terrible price for it all.
But fortunately, Penacony still stood. With the rare unity of the major bloodlines and the nominal backing of Herta Space Station, no one was going out of their way to make trouble for Penacony for the time being.
Before long, the Charmony Festival was pushed to the back of the public mind.
Because at this very moment, the IPC announced a bombshell to the entire galaxy.
They would be holding a broadcast from Pier Point for the whole galaxy to watch.
And they meant that literally.
To make sure that as many intelligent civilizations as possible could watch the event, the IPC even spent an absurd amount of money to provide free access to technologically backward planets that did not even fall under IPC jurisdiction.
It was obvious how much the IPC valued this broadcast.
And the content of the broadcast was simple enough for anyone to understand.
They had welcomed back an Emanator of Preservation.
And that Emanator of Preservation was none other than Kallen Kaslana, the woman who had shattered Order in Penacony by her own strength alone.
Even so, many forces throughout the galaxy were baffled by the IPC's actions.
Granted, this Emanator of Preservation was incredibly powerful, perhaps unmatched across the entire galaxy.
But if this were only a matter of welcoming an Emanator of Preservation, the IPC might make a great show of it, yes—but never to this extent.
Sure enough, the very next day after announcing the broadcast, the IPC released the details of what it was about.
It turned out that the woman named Kallen Kaslana, this Emanator of Preservation, was in truth a shed remnant of Qlipoth, the Aeon of Preservation, given form.
And she had come into the world carrying a mission.
The IPC did not disclose exactly what that mission was, but with how grand their preparations were, and with the matter concerning an Aeon, anyone with a brain could guess it had to be something earthshaking.
Now, Kallen Kaslana had completed that mission and was about to return to Preservation.
To commemorate this historic moment, the IPC would broadcast the process live to the entire galaxy.
At once, most of the galaxy erupted with excitement.
After all, this meant they would have the chance to witness an Aeon with their own eyes.
Even if only through a broadcast, it was enough to fill countless people with joy.
At that same moment, at Pier Point, the IPC headquarters—
This city named for amber held an immovable position within the galaxy.
It belonged to no star system, was dependent on no civilization. It simply floated in the depths of the cosmos like a piece of amber personally carved by Qlipoth.
And today, it had迎来了其历史上最隆重的一天.No—today was the most ceremonious day in its history.
Amber banners hung on both sides of headquarters, every one embroidered with the IPC insignia. Holographic projections laced the sky, cycling through one enormous image after another.
Kallen Kaslana.
A month ago, this name had been all but unknown.
Now, it had become the focus of discussion across the entire galaxy.
Penacony's savior, the shatterer of Order, the Emanator of Preservation—those titles were being repeated again and again, growing more exaggerated each time.
IPC media outlets had spared no effort in glorifying the occasion.
"An epic triumph," "The Builder personally chosen by Qlipoth," "The greatest guardian in the galaxy"—headlines like these dominated every front page and every feed.
And yet Pier Point itself was empty.
Because Kallen Kaslana had made one very particular demand.
Did the IPC want to broadcast her return to Preservation?
Fine.
But she would allow only one person to be present on site. When the time came, not a single other person was permitted to remain anywhere in Pier Point.
It was a troublesome condition, but the IPC chose to accept it.
And so, after spending yet another outrageous sum of credits to suspend the city's operations, the entire headquarters was evacuated in an instant.
As for the one person who would be allowed to witness this ceremony in person—
That honor ultimately fell to Oswaldo Schneider, the very director from the Market Development Department who had first proposed the livestream.
"Ha. Diamond, it seems your Strategic Investment Department failed to seize this opportunity after all."
In a distant IPC branch office, a middle-aged man was currently speaking to Diamond.
Taravan. P48 rank. An Emanator of Preservation. Head of the IPC Building Materials Logistics Department, and one of the members of the Board.
Unlike the masses packed shoulder to shoulder around public screens, these self-styled elites of the company naturally had their own channels through which to watch the broadcast.
"…In the end, it is all for Qlipoth. What is there to regret?" Diamond replied, outwardly calm despite Taravan's mockery.
But only Diamond himself knew what was truly going through his mind.
The Market Development Department and Strategic Investment Department had always been at odds. And Oswaldo Schneider, head of Market Development, was also Diamond's current rival for a Board seat.
Originally, Diamond had considered the Penacony operation a sure thing. He had fully expected to secure a功劳 large enough to decisively tip the scales in that competition.
But not only had they failed to make any headway in Penacony, in the final critical moment involving Miss Kallen, they had also let Oswaldo steal the whole thing out from under them.
If Diamond felt no anger or regret over that, he would be lying.
Right now, he wanted nothing more than to kick Oswaldo to death and take his place.
Taravan could only offer a dry laugh.
"Don't take it so hard, Diamond. Sure, Oswaldo really did earn the company a major victory this time—but you still have chances ahead of you, don't you?"
That was what he said, anyway. In truth, it was only empty comfort.
Because Oswaldo's功劳 this time was simply too great.
Yes, the company had paid an unimaginable price in credits. But a broadcast on the scale of an Aeonic mission, shown to the whole galaxy, would bring returns beyond calculation.
Using the fame of a remnant of the Preservation Aeon, the company's prestige would soar to its highest point in galactic history. Countless civilizations would choose to attach themselves to the IPC. Resources, influence, and authority would all pour toward them. The Board had done that math long ago.
Diamond knew that too.
Which was precisely why he had no desire to say another word in response to Taravan's "comfort."
Damn it.
He really was furious.
Why did something this good have to fall into the hands of a bastard like Oswaldo?
Seeing the look on his face, Taravan could only continue awkwardly, "Try not to brood so much, Diamond. Whatever happens, you're still an Emanator of Preservation. Even if you lose this round of Board competition, there will be more opportunities."
"Besides, what matters now is this broadcast. As an Emanator of Preservation yourself, aren't you at least a little curious what sort of mission that Miss Kallen claims to bear?"
At last, Diamond responded.
"…At this point, there's no use dwelling on it. Of course I'm curious. A shed remnant of Qlipoth given human form, carrying an exclusive mission—leave aside the galaxy at large, even within the IPC there has never been the slightest record of such a thing."
"The only thing to do now is hope this broadcast truly brings a revelation worthy of Preservation's faith."
And so the two public Emanators of Preservation fell silent and turned their attention to the live feed from Pier Point.
At that same time, in Pier Point—
Amber light radiated outward from the city's core like a newborn star on the verge of eruption.
Oswaldo Schneider stood atop the central headquarters platform, gaze crossing the empty city to settle on the white-haired figure walking toward him.
Kallen Kaslana's attire today differed somewhat from usual.
She wore an amber gown, its hem embroidered with the IPC's iconic insignia. Her long hair had been carefully arranged and fell behind her shoulders, making her already pale face appear even colder.
"Miss Kallen," Oswaldo said with a graceful bow and a polished smile, "you are radiant today."
Kallen gave him a glance but said nothing.
She had never much liked this man—her superior at headquarters.
Still, it didn't matter.
After today, she probably would never need to deal with him again.
"Let's go," she said simply.
Oswaldo did not take offense. He merely stepped aside and gestured with a courteous sweep of the arm.
The two walked together toward the deepest chamber of headquarters, where a teleportation gate stood. It was an arch built from amber crystal, and beyond it lay the subspace where Qlipoth dwelled.
This gate was one of the company's highest secrets, ordinarily watched over by countless layers of guards.
But today, in accordance with Kallen's wishes, every last one of them had been withdrawn.
Oswaldo stopped three meters from the arch, still wearing that perfect smile.
"Miss Kallen, according to the plan we agreed on, I will remain behind you the whole time," he said.
"Once you are ready, I will have the galaxy-wide livestream fully activated. Then you may begin the ceremony and return to Preservation."
"Mm." Kallen did not look back. She only stared at the arch.
And the two of them stepped through it.
Soon, Kallen and Oswaldo emerged into the subspace where Qlipoth resided.
The moment she entered, Kallen felt a dense, oppressive pressure settle around her.
There was no doubt about it. They were very close to Qlipoth now.
She raised her eyes and saw fleets upon fleets of starships suspended in the void, though every one of them stood empty.
Naturally. They were there only for the broadcast and served no other purpose.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
The deafening sound of hammer blows rang beside her ears, each strike making the amber light of the subspace tremble.
Kallen lifted her head and saw Him.
Qlipoth.
The Aeon of Preservation. The Amber Lord.
His form was so vast that language failed before it. It was as though the entire subspace were only an extension of His body.
Kallen could not help recalling the blow she had taken in Penacony before.
She wondered what would happen if, with her current 50% Preservation resistance, she took another hit now.
"Miss Kallen?" Oswaldo's voice came from behind her, tinged with careful inquiry. "Are you all right?"
Kallen did not answer.
She simply kept walking, boots clicking crisply against the amber ground.
Oswaldo followed at a careful distance. His eyes swept over the suspended fleets and then returned to the white figure ahead of him, his smile never once wavering.
At this moment, countless calculations ran through his mind.
He was calculating.
How much profit would this broadcast generate for the company? How many points could it add to Market Development's valuation? How many votes might it win him over Diamond in the battle for the Board?
As for Kallen Kaslana—
She was an Emanator of Preservation, a remnant of Qlipoth given form, bearing some grand mission.
But none of that was what truly mattered.
What mattered was that she was a card in the company's hand.
A trump card—one capable of crushing every competitor.
As long as she completed the ceremony today, as long as the whole galaxy witnessed her return to Preservation, the company's prestige would rise to an unprecedented height.
And he, Oswaldo Schneider, would be the one who played that card.
At that thought, his smile grew even warmer.
"Miss Kallen, we've arrived."
He indicated a floating platform not far ahead.
It was built of amber crystal as well, its surface carved all over with densely packed Builder inscriptions. Those inscriptions were glowing, resonating faintly with the thunderous hammering of Qlipoth.
"According to our agreed procedure," Oswaldo said, clearing his throat, "once you step onto that platform, I will activate the galaxy-wide broadcast. Then you may begin the ritual and return to Preservation."
"The length of the process is entirely up to you. We've had the finest technical teams in the company guarantee the signal stability. There will absolutely be no—"
"You talk too much," Kallen interrupted. "And it's getting annoying."
At a moment this critical, if he hadn't still had one last use to her, she would have kicked him to death already.
Oswaldo froze for the briefest instant, then smiled and nodded.
"My apologies. I've been too talkative. Then, Miss Kallen… please."
Kallen looked at him the way one might look at a tool.
The smile on his face twitched for a moment before settling back into place. He retreated a few steps and drew out an amber crystal from his coat, closing his fingers around it.
The crystal lit up.
At that exact moment, the same image appeared simultaneously on screens across the galaxy.
The amber subspace. The suspended fleets. Qlipoth's vague, colossal silhouette.
And—
The white figure standing at the edge of the platform.
Kallen Kaslana.
Her face appeared on every screen, in every place where there were humans, intelligence, civilization.
Outside Pier Point, countless observatories were packed with IPC employees. Some watched with clenched fists. Others folded their hands in reverence.
Herta Space Station. The Astral Express. The Xianzhou Alliance. Penacony. The Family.
Even some ancient recluses hidden away in forgotten corners had their eyes on this moment.
The broadcast signal flowed steadily through subspace, transmitting every frame without omission to the galaxy's audiences in the trillions upon trillions.
Standing just outside the camera's view, Oswaldo Schneider wore that flawless smile and delivered the opening speech he had rehearsed countless times.
Then his figure appeared before every viewer.
"To the civilizations and star systems of the galaxy—my name is Oswaldo Schneider, Director of the Market Development Department of the Interastral Peace Corporation."
His voice was translated by broadcast devices into thousands of languages and rang out in every corner of the cosmos.
"Today, we are gathered here to witness a historic moment. Kallen Kaslana—"
He gestured for the cameras to turn toward the white-haired figure.
"An Emanator of Preservation, a being shaped from the cast-off shell of the Amber Lord, is now about to return to Preservation after completing her great mission."
On-screen, Kallen stood on the amber crystal platform, the hem of her dress stirred by the formless currents of the subspace.
Her expression was as still as dead water. No hint of emotion could be seen upon her face.
Oswaldo continued, "Some may ask—what exactly was Miss Kallen's mission? Why was she able, as an Emanator of Preservation, to shatter the conspiracy of Order in Penacony by her own strength alone?"
He paused, allowing just the right amount of suspense to build.
"The answer is simple. Because her very existence is an extension of Qlipoth's will."
"And now, with her mission complete, she will return to the Amber Lord and become part of the Path of Preservation itself. This is the first event involving an Aeon ever to be recorded since the opening of the Amber Era."
"And we… are all its witnesses."
With that, Oswaldo withdrew half a step and indicated that Kallen could begin.
"Please, Miss Kallen. Let us witness Preservation's greatness. Let us witness your glory."
And throughout the galaxy, deafening cheers broke out.
"Preservation! Preservation! Preservation!"
"Amber Lord! Amber Lord! Amber Lord!"
"Saint Kallen! Saint Kallen! Saint Kallen!"
The cries rolled like a tidal wave through star sea after star sea, traveling back along the broadcast signal and echoing in the subspace itself. What should have been the most solemn and sacred of moments instead made Kallen's fingers curl slightly at her sides.
Indeed—since her identity had been revealed, the title "Saint of Preservation" had begun echoing across the cosmos.
As if "Saint of Preservation" were somehow a status even higher than "Emanator of Preservation."
And now the believers and the nonbelievers alike were staring intently at the broadcast, terrified of missing even a single moment.
For a moment, Kallen found the feeling strangely surreal.
If something like accumulated faith truly existed in this world, she almost felt she could borrow a little of Preservation's glory and ascend on the spot.
And yet Kallen did not make her next move.
The subspace fell into a brief silence.
Standing on the platform, Kallen closed her eyes.
She could feel those gazes.
Countless, incalculable gazes, converging from every corner of the galaxy and falling on her.
This was exactly the effect the company had wanted.
To show the whole galaxy. To make the whole galaxy believe that the true orthodoxy of Preservation lay with the IPC.
Kallen's lips curved into the faintest smile.
And this was also exactly the effect she wanted.
Just think about it.
If, before the gaze of the entire galaxy, she were to cast down one great lie—
How many points would that earn her?
Forget the high-quality "chargers" scattered across the worlds. Even the sheer number of ordinary people, layered one atop another in such absurd quantities, would be enough to create a terrifying figure.
As for what the IPC was hoping for—
Sorry.
They were about to be disappointed.
Kallen opened her eyes. Her amber irises shone like cold flames in the dim subspace.
Then she turned.
Not toward Qlipoth.
Not toward the crystal platform covered in Builder inscriptions.
But toward the cameras.
One step. Two steps. Three.
The amber train of her dress swept behind her in a graceful curve, and every click of her boots against the crystal sounded like the countdown to some unavoidable end.
Oswaldo's smile froze.
"Miss Kallen… what are you doing?"
Kallen ignored him. She found the best possible center angle for the cameras floating in the subspace.
Then she raised a hand.
The broadcast feed trembled slightly.
Every viewer saw it happen—Kallen Kaslana standing in the amber radiance of subspace, one hand pressing against the camera array, forcing the lens half an inch lower.
Now the cameras were aimed directly at her face.
Not the angle carefully designed by the IPC.
Not the composition Oswaldo had rehearsed again and again.
Just her face.
"To the civilizations and star systems of the galaxy—hello."
"My name is Kallen. Kallen Kaslana. Emanator of Preservation."
She paused for one second.
"Or rather—I am a discarded shell shed by Qlipoth. On that point, the IPC did not lie to you."
Outside the frame, Oswaldo's smile vanished completely.
His fingers tightened around the amber crystal controlling the broadcast, and it began to hum faintly in his palm.
He had a bad feeling.
A very bad feeling.
"But," Kallen continued, "the IPC did not tell you the whole truth."
She lifted a hand. Amber light flowed across her fingertips.
It was the power of Preservation—pure, heavy, carrying the crushing authority unique to an Emanator.
"But they told you my mission was complete. They told you that today I would return to the embrace of Preservation."
Kallen smiled again.
"Yes. My mission is indeed about to be completed."
"But the mission I bear… is somewhat different from what you think."
"Forgive me, everyone."
Her clear voice passed through the broadcast devices and spread to the entire galaxy, instantly drowning out the chants and bringing all noise to an abrupt halt.
Whether it was IPC employees in observation stations, Taravan and Diamond in their remote company branches, or the ordinary viewers watching from all corners of the galaxy—everyone froze. For a moment, no one even understood who this apology was meant for.
Fear. Suspicion. Doubt. Disbelief.
In an instant, innumerable negative emotions began wandering across the galaxy.
And the subspace itself plunged into stillness.
Only the sound of Qlipoth's hammer echoed in the distance.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
Every strike hit the hearts of the watching audience like a blow.
Then Kallen raised her hand again.
Amber light gathered once more—the authority of Preservation, the power granted to an Emanator by Qlipoth.
But hidden beneath that light was something else.
Nihility.
Nihility that had been refined through Adapt to All Things, existing in perfect coexistence with Preservation.
"System. Spend 30,000 points to purchase the skill 'Backstabber's Betrayal.'"
The skill's description surfaced in her mind immediately.
Backstabber's Betrayal — 30,000 pointsDescription: According to the properties of the current persona, enables the persona to possess a decisive method of betrayal when facing the Aeon of their corresponding Path.
Bang!
Judah appeared.
A single spear of light shot out—
and Oswaldo Schneider, director of the IPC, was nailed to the ground in an instant.
"W-wait—!"
Kallen did not so much as glance at him. She simply continued.
Black Nihility began to emerge, slowly at first, then inexorably swallowing the viewers' entire field of vision.
"Everyone…"
"Watch my performance carefully."
"My name is Kallen. Kallen Kaslana. I am the shell Qlipoth cast off after being tainted by Nihility."
"And my mission…"
"…is to use this Nihility to defile Preservation."
Join here to read ahead.
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