Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1870 Leader by force

The entry of the Savage Behemoth Forces threw everyone into a state of high alert, a tense silence where every breath seemed suspended, as if the universe itself was holding back to witness what would happen next.

Years had passed since the climactic confrontation and since Lord Hedrick and his armadas had vanished into the void. Years of oppressive calm, years weighed down by fear of the uncertain future, had stretched across the sector. And now, at last, everyone knew that the delicate balance was on the verge of shattering the situation was about to ignite again, and no one could predict the scale of what was coming.

The Big Six immediately placed their armadas on maximum readiness, and personally led their forces to join the front lines. They understood perfectly well that once the Savage Behemoth Armada reached the military base of the Cursed Behemoth, the combined assault of these two formidable forces would strike the Millennial Empire without hesitation, unleashing devastation at a scale unprecedented in living memory.

They stood waiting, tense, hearts pounding in their throats... When they had once possessed numerical superiority, they still hadnʼt been able to act effectively. And now? Now the enemy had doubled in strength. How could they possibly confront such overwhelming power after so long a wait?

The Centennial and Multi-Centennial Empires also mobilized, rallying under the banner of a single Centennial Empire that controlled 960 planets. Altogether, they mustered around 1500 fleets. Yet even this massive force waited from a distance, observing silently, unable or unwilling to intervene too soon, carefully weighing the situation as tension mounted across the sector.

Days passed... then weeks... and all eyes were fixed on the horizon, waiting for reinforcements to arrive at the military base. Then, suddenly, the unexpected occurred.

The Savage Behemoth Armada did not veer toward the base. It did not attempt to engage the scattered armies arrayed across the region. Instead, it moved in a perfectly straight trajectory, ignoring everything in its path. It came to a halt at a random starfield, landing on an arbitrary planet, and immediately began attacking the local population indiscriminately. Following this, the fleet began erecting several powerful arrays, establishing control and preparing the groundwork for... a new military base.

They had begun constructing a military stronghold of their own.

The shock and outrage among the sectorʼs inhabitants were immeasurable. The audacity of this move, the blatant disregard for protocol, law, or local authority, was beyond what anyone had anticipated.

Despite undoubtedly receiving news of prior events, these forces ignored everything and deliberately repeated the strategy employed by the Cursed Galaxy Forces - as if to mock analysts and leaders alike, daring them to comprehend or interfere: ”Go, bang your heads against the wall; this is beyond your control.” However, this time there was a subtle yet significant shift in strategy. The Savage Behemoth Forces - 2000 new fleets, accompanied by around 200 additional fleets led by Zaryon-focused their attacks on free planets and independent planetary kingdoms. They deliberately avoided any ancient empires or established Centennial Empires. Their advance was strategic, precise, as though they intended to establish a new empire entirely under their own dominion, untouched by the influence of older powers.

Since no major powers had been directly challenged or harmed, no one intervened. And within just five years, the Savage Behemoth Forces had gained control over 240 planets in the region. They had already begun large-scale mining operations and the extraction of vital resources. Openly and without restraint, they shipped prisoners and corpses of the local population to feed the Beast Kings who had accompanied them, demonstrating their absolute dominance and disregard for conventional morality.

The Savage Behemoth Forces issued a single public statement, stark and concise, leaving no room for negotiation: ”We are here to establish a surveillance zone for criminals and terrorists in Mid-Sector 101. If you are not a criminal, you have no reason to worry. Continue your life as you see fit.”

Finally, in year 46, the Cursed Behemoth Forces decided to act.

After establishing a military base of unprecedented strength and resilience, nearly 2000 fleets surged forward toward the heart of the Millennial Empire, completely disregarding the nearly 3000 fleets that had been positioned to defend it!!

The scale, audacity, and speed of their advance sent shockwaves across the sector, leaving every observer aware that the coming conflict would be catastrophic - a confrontation unlike any the sector had ever seen before. A massive and cataclysmic battle erupted that day, a confrontation in which dozens upon dozens of fleets from both sides were shattered, obliterated, or thrown into disarray. The clash ended with the Big Six Alliance being forced into a strategic and painful retreat, their forces bleeding ships and men. Yet, this was not the end. Three months later, another battle erupted. Then, after eleven months, yet another erupted. Each time, the fleets fell like leaves in a storm, each time the alliance was forced to regroup, fall back, and lick their wounds.

By year 49, the Cursed Behemoth Forces had advanced deep into the starfield, moving along a direct, unrelenting path toward the capital of the Millennial Empire. They paid no heed to planets they passed, nor did they care to seize territory or consolidate power. Their goal was singular and terrifying: the very heart of the empire itself, its capital, its throne, and its people.

Then came the greatest battle this sector had witnessed since the beginning of the war...

Hundreds of fleets were destroyed that day. The void seemed to fracture and explode repeatedly under the sheer magnitude of firepower unleashed. A Young Space Monster appeared, a creature of raw cosmic terror, spreading chaos indiscriminately. Yet, despite the destruction and terror, the Royal Soul Masters, loyal to the Cursed Behemoth, fought with precision and force, ultimately driving the space beast back.

The battle concluded with the forces of the Big Six Alliance reduced to just 2,100 fleets. The retreat was painstaking, meticulous, and fraught with danger. Using advanced displacement and smuggling equipment, the alliance managed to transport the homeworld of the Millennial Empire to a distant starfield, buying precious time for regrouping.

Then, under the watchful eyes of countless observers across the sector, the Cursed Behemoth Forces expanded without hesitation, taking full advantage of the evacuation of the homeworld. They attacked each planet formerly under Millennial control, one by one, systematically, calculating every strike, and establishing control with ruthless efficiency.

By the end of year 49, the sector had witnessed one of the darkest periods in tens of millions of years. Morale was at its lowest, the people terrified, unsure of what the next day would bring. And then, news arrived that sent shockwaves through all observers.

Lord Hedrick appeared personally once again. This time, while all eyes were fixated on the Cursed Behemoth Forces and their aggressive expansion, Hedrick moved with unerring precision, bypassing distractions, and besieging the Savage Behemoth Forces directly.

He destroyed thirty planets along with all forces stationed on them, brought down seventy fleets, and wounded a Guardian, all before the Savage Behemoth Armada could regroup. Then, as suddenly as he struck, he retreated swiftly, leaving a trail of awe, fear, and disbelief in his wake.

This precise, surgical strike, this decisive assault and flawless victory, reminded everyone of the true source of power in Mid-Sector 101. Of the one who had fought alone against intruders for centuries, of the one who toppled thousands of fleets without ever surrendering or retreating.

At the start of year fifty, the Big Six Alliance could no longer act with neutrality. They sent Hedrick an official invitation, offering him the seventh seat in the alliance, along with command authority over all its forces.

The Centennial and Multi-Planetary Empires also declared that they would act under his orders should the Savage Behemoth and Cursed Behemoth Forces continue their expansion unchecked.

Without uttering a single word since the day of the grand celebration, Hedrick found himself at the helm of the sector, the face of authority, and the controller of every fleet and soldier within its borders.

He became the 101st Sector Uncrown King.

At the end of year fifty- on a neutral planet:

Hedrick raised his head slightly, his gaze sweeping across the horizon. ”The two lions have entered the farm, and the matter is decided... submission to foreign powers always ends in ruin, no matter how long the years may pass. The reckoning has finally arrived.”

Silence

Orionʼs eyes lingered on Hedrick, a mixture of weakness, astonishment, and silent rage reflected in them. ”If not for you, none of this would have happened...” He clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles whitening as he rose to his full height.

Pointing at Hedrick, he continued, his voice trembling with restrained fury: ”You are the reason Mid-Sector 101 lies under the mercy of our allies. Leave us and fuck off, only then everything will be resolved!”