Chapter 1365: Integrating the Entire Bode Star System

Xiuluo Holy Star, Primarch Residential Area, Emperor's study.

The sunlight outside the window spilled in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the entire room and making it warm.

Birds in the garden hopped between the branches, emitting crisp chirping sounds.

The distant city shimmered with golden light under the sun, where countless Human beings lived, worked, and multiplied.

Everything looked so peaceful, so tranquil.

But on the face of Yingzhou behind the desk, there was no peace to speak of.

He sat before the desk, and in front of him was the red area marked as the Viridian Sector on the Holographic Star Map.

The red was receding; the battle report sent by Horus had just arrived, and the text on the holographic screen flowed rapidly before his eyes.

The Rift closed, the Zerg out of control, ground clearing operations underway.

Fleet losses were still within an acceptable range, but they had won.

Luojia sat in the chair to the left of the desk, wearing the ceremonial robes of the Word Bearers Legion, holding that string of Psionic Crystal Rosary in his hand.

His expression was calm, but the rosary beads were turning much faster than usual.

Guilliman sat on the right, his short golden hair neatly combed back.

He had just returned from the old territory of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance, and his uniform still bore the creases from long-distance jumping.

His face was solemn, his brows slightly furrowed, staring at the purple light point on the star map that had already disappeared.

Lu Zhenda stood beside the desk, holding a Data Pad in his hand, saying nothing.

"The Rift has closed."

Yingzhou spoke, his voice as calm as ever.

"The Zerg's reinforcements are cut off, and the Zerg remaining on this side will be wiped out sooner or later. Horus and the others are finishing up."

Luojia nodded.

"Father, this is a victory."

Yingzhou looked at him.

"Victory? The Bode Star System was almost devoured by the Zerg, five sectors of the Canaan Star Alliance fell, and hundreds of billions of laborers turned to Ashes. The entire planet of Kalini Star was blown to pieces. Our fleet lost so many warships, and the number of Space Marines killed in action is the highest it has ever been."

Luojia lowered his head.

Guilliman spoke up.

"Father, although the price was heavy, the Zerg were repelled, and the Rift was closed. If not for this victory, the Bode Star System would have fallen into an even greater crisis."

Yingzhou was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Guilliman, you are right. But this victory is only the beginning."

Yingzhou stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the sky of Xiuluo Holy Star was as blue as if washed.

"Mirror Rift."

He said in a low voice.

"The scientists of the Canaan Star Alliance opened it. We closed it. But before this, the Feng Qi Xing Alliance had also opened similar rifts. That time on Shenyuan Star, we saw with our own eyes the world on the other side of the rift, Chaos, twisted, and those corrupted Primarchs."

He turned around, looking at Luojia and Guilliman.

"This is not the first time a rift has appeared. Every time someone opens a rift, the entities on the other side get one more chance to observe us. The first time, the Feng Qi Xing Alliance. The second time, the Canaan Star Alliance. What about the third time? The fourth time? Who can guarantee there won't be another fool who touches those Forbidden Technology?"

Guilliman's fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of his chair.

"Father, do you mean that the entities on the other side of the rift might actively look for a way to come over?"

Yingzhou looked at him.

"Guilliman, if you were the entity on the other side of the rift, what would you do? Would you wait for people on this side to open the rift again and again, or would you find a way to open it yourself?"

"I would find a way to open it myself."

Yingzhou nodded.

"So, they will too."

Luojia's rosary stopped.

"Father, do you believe the entities on the other side of the rift have the ability to actively open a passage?"

Yingzhou walked back to the desk and sat down.

"Every time a rift opens, it leaves a mark on the barrier of reality. The first time is a tiny crack, the second time is a larger gap. The more times it happens, the deeper the marks, and the more fragile the barrier of reality becomes. One day, they won't need anyone on this side to open a rift; they will be able to tear the barrier themselves."

Lu Zhenda spoke up.

"Your Majesty, do you mean that the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance must be prepared to deal with an invasion that might be launched from the other side of the rift?"

Yingzhou looked at him.

"Not just the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance. The entire Bode Star System, every civilization, must be prepared."

Guilliman brought up a Holographic Data Pad.

"Father, according to the battle report sent by Horus, before the Rift closed, Magnus captured an abnormal image in the Psionic Echo."

Yingzhou's brows furrowed slightly.

"What image?"

Guilliman brought up a text record.

"Magnus said that on the other side of the rift, there was a dark red fissure. The edges of the fissure were not purple, but dark red, a dark red soaked in blood. On the other end of that fissure, there are even more powerful entities."

Luojia's rosary began to turn again.

"Father, what is that?"

Yingzhou shook his head.

"I don't know, but whatever it is, it is not on our side. For now, it seems to be in a hostile relationship with the Zerg, but that does not mean it is friendly to Humans; our enemies are not just those Alien."

Guilliman said.

"Father is right. We must be vigilant against all potential threats. The Bode Star System is not exclusive to Humans, but Human interests must take priority."

Yingzhou looked at him.

"Guilliman, what is your take on the entities on the other side of the rift?"

Guilliman thought for a moment.

"Father, I believe the entities on the other side of the rift are more complex than we imagine. The Chaos Primarchs are one category, the Tyranids are another, and the entities within that dark red rift are yet another. They may be hostile toward one another, or they may join forces under certain conditions; we cannot predict this, but we can prepare."

Yingzhou nodded.

"Prepare, yes, we must prepare."

Luojia stood up and walked to the Holographic Star Map.

His fingers traced across the star map, marking the locations of the Canaan Star Alliance, the Ash Star Alliance, the Daikong Star Alliance, the Luoke Imperium, and many other factions.

"Father, Guilliman, look. The Bode Star System has multiple civilizations. Humans are only one of them. The Feng Qi Xing Alliance was destroyed, the Canaan Star Alliance was heavily damaged by the Tyranids, the Ash Star Alliance is held in check by our garrison, the Daikong Star Alliance has already signed a Non-Aggression Treaty, the Luoke Imperium is currently maintaining Silence, and there are other factions as well. Moreover, this is only a portion of the Bode Star System."

He turned around and looked at Yingzhou.

"Father, I believe the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance should unite with other factions, or at the very least, integrate all the nearby factions."

The appearance of the rift is not a problem for a single civilization; it is a problem for the entire Bode Star System.

When the Tyranids invaded, the Canaan Star Alliance could not stop them, and the Ash Star Alliance could not stop them either. If we had not intervened, the entire Bode Star System would have been Devoured by the Tyranids.

What about next time? If the rift opens in the territory of the Luoke Imperium, can they stop it? If they cannot stop it, the Tyranids will still spread to our territory."

Guilliman's brows furrowed slightly.

"Luojia, do you mean to establish a Bode Star System Defense Alliance?"

Luojia nodded.

"Yes. All civilizations, unified command, unified deployment, to jointly address the threat of the rift."

Yingzhou looked at him.

"Luojia, do you know what this implies?"

Luojia said.

"Father, I know. It means the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance will become the leader of the Bode Star System. Other factions must acknowledge our dominant position, must accept our command, and must cooperate with our actions. This is a defense system with the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance at its core."

Guilliman leaned back in his chair.

"Luojia, do you think the other factions will accept this? The Ash Star Alliance is garrisoned by us, and they are dissatisfied. The Canaan Star Alliance was just heavily damaged by the Tyranids, and they both respect and fear us. The Daikong Star Alliance signed the treaty, but they have been watching from the sidelines. The Luoke Imperium is even more predatory, and there are other factions; how could they willingly accept our leadership?"

Luojia looked at him.

"Guilliman, they do not need to be willing; they only need to accept reality. The Bode Star System has no other choice. We are not begging them to join; we are giving them a way to survive."