286: The leader's decision

Within the Realm of Stars, the Grandmaster floated silently in the void, her silver hair cascading like a waterfall, gently drifting in the zero-gravity environment.

Her eyes reflected the light of countless stars, yet they were deeper and more complex than ever before.

In the crystal ball floating before her, a broadcast of President Dieter Crois of Crossbell's press conference speech was playing. His powerful voice echoed through the silent space.

"...The sons and daughters of Crossbell have proven with their blood and courage that even small nations have dignity, and the weak can overcome the strong!"

The Grandmaster's slender fingers gently brushed the crystal ball, and the scene immediately switched.

At an Imperial border military base, Crossbell's blue flag with a golden lion flapped in the wind. The wreckage of the Republic's airship fleet was scattered across the valleys, like toys carelessly discarded by a child.

"Half a month..." she murmured softly, her voice like the night wind caressing harp strings, "Only half a month, and the continent's pattern has been completely rewritten."

Her thoughts returned to that moment that changed everything, the experience of being forcibly pulled into a higher-dimensional space by the Preservation Star God who called himself the "Amber King." His words still echoed in her mind.

"This world will 'return to nothingness.' If you want to break the shackles, then exchange it for 'losing everything.'"

"To gain everything, one naturally needs to lose everything."

The Grandmaster closed her eyes, feeling the power flowing within her. It turned out that the being was not wrong; she truly was a creation of the Goddess of the Sky, or rather, a part of her.

After learning this, many memories she didn't possess before flooded into her mind like a tide. Many things she had wanted to forget returned to where they belonged.

As a part of the Goddess of the Sky's divinity, she knew the truth of this world better than anyone. The endless cycles, the inescapable destiny.

For hundreds of years, her meticulously planned "project" was supposed to be the key to breaking all of this.

"Osborne...." She uttered the name, her tone carrying a complex emotion, "Originally, you had the chance to be the game-changer, using the power of the Seven Divine Knights to end the curse of the Steel Treasure..."

"To use the general trend to make the Society a pawn, even if only temporarily, and then change the future."

But now, everything had changed.

The intervention of the Interstellar Peace Corporation was like a sharp blade, severing the predetermined threads of fate.

The Empire's Divine Knights were easily defeated by the young man named Yanqing, and the Republic's airship fleet was no match for the "Giant Bird."

And Crossbell, the small city that should have struggled in the cracks between the two great nations, had now become the key to changing the continent's pattern.

The Grandmaster slowly opened her eyes, and the scene in the crystal ball changed again.

Osborne stood by the window of the Imperial Palace, his back appearing more solitary than ever; President Rocksmith of the Republic raged in his office, unable to hide the fear in his eyes.

The Grandmaster said softly, "The future of the Demon City is no longer within my foresight..."

Before mastering the ability to counter the weapons the Interstellar Peace Corporation provided to Crossbell, it would be impossible to take Crossbell unless the Empire and the Republic launched an all-out national war.

She raised her hand, and a golden gem appeared out of thin air in her palm. This was the token the Amber King had left her, containing a dimension-spanning power she couldn't comprehend.

The gem slowly rotated in the void, emitting a warm and mysterious glow.

"In that case..." A hint of determination flashed in the Grandmaster's eyes, "Let me see with my own eyes what you call the 'solution.'"

As she infused her power, the golden gem suddenly burst into dazzling light, illuminating the entire Realm of Stars as if it were daytime. In the light, the Grandmaster's figure gradually became transparent, finally transforming into countless points of light and dissipating into the void.

At the same time, in the lounge of the Interstellar Peace Corporation headquarters, an extremely intense mahjong game was underway. Chen Hao frowned as he looked at the cards in his hand; the other three players were Bronya, Silver Wolf, and Qingque.

"Wait, that card isn't right," Silver Wolf suddenly narrowed her eyes, pointing at the card Chen Hao had just played, "Boss, did you secretly switch cards just now?"

Chen Hao looked innocent: "How could that be? Am I that kind of person?" As he spoke, he quietly hid Aventurine's Cornerstone back in his sleeve.

Bronya shook her head helplessly: "I say, dear, cheating like this isn't very good, is it?"

"How can this be called cheating? This is strategy!" Chen Hao said righteously, "And you three ganging up on me, you're not even allowed to ask for outside help?"

Qingque yawned: "Boss, do you want me to tell your fortune? See if you can win this hand?"

Just as the four were laughing and joking, Chen Hao's expression suddenly changed. He felt a familiar energy fluctuation; it was the signal that the summoning stone he had left for the Grandmaster had been activated.

"Sorry, ladies, I have an urgent matter to attend to." Chen Hao stood up, a faint golden glow beginning to appear around him, "Let's remember this game; we'll continue next time."

Silver Wolf pouted unhappily: "There he goes again, always running away when he's about to lose."

Bronya, however, asked with concern: "Do you need help?"

"No, just a small matter to handle." Chen Hao smiled slightly, his figure gradually becoming transparent, "You all continue playing; I'll be back soon."

With a flash of golden light, Chen Hao's figure completely disappeared from the lounge.

Silver Wolf shrugged and began to shuffle the cards: "Alright, three missing one. How about we play Fight the Landlord?"

...

When the light dissipated, the Grandmaster found herself once again in that wondrous higher-dimensional space.

Around her were flowing star rivers and shimmering nebulae; time and space lost their meaning here, everything seemed both illusory and real.

In this realm beyond time and space, she saw that familiar figure, the Amber King.

He stood quietly at the center of the nebula's vortex, enveloped by a faint golden glow. The light was neither dazzling nor ostentatious, yet it contained awe-inspiring power.

"You've come." Chen Hao's voice was gentle yet carried a certain otherworldly majesty, "It seems you have made your decision."

The Grandmaster nodded slightly, her silver hair gently drifting in the zero-gravity environment.

Her gaze was firm, her voice clear and steady: "Yes, I have made my decision. Everything that has happened recently has proven that you and the forces you represent have the ability to sever this world's threads of fate."

She floated a step closer and continued, "The miracle of Crossbell, the defeat of the Imperial Divine Knights, the annihilation of the Republic's airship fleet... these are all just a small display of the power in your hands. Since you have the power to change this planet's destiny, then I believe you also have the power to save it."

A faint smile appeared on Chen Hao's lips: "You are very intelligent, but you should understand that any major change requires a corresponding price."

"That's exactly what I want to clarify," the Grandmaster's tone became serious, "What does your 'to gain everything, one naturally needs to lose everything' truly mean by 'losing everything'? Is it the end of an entire civilization? The demise of all life? Or..."

"None of those." Chen Hao gently shook his head, "The 'losing everything' refers to the complete collapse of the old order; the Society will cease to exist. It's the dissipation of the Treasures' power, the end of your identity as 'Grandmaster,' and the collapse of all power structures built on the existing system."

"This means you will lose all the power you currently possess; the Goddess of the Sky's divinity will be deconstructed, and even the existence of the Goddess of the Sky will be redefined."

The Grandmaster was silent for a moment, digesting this information. Finally, she looked up, her eyes gleaming with resolute light: "If this is the price... I accept it. Compared to letting this world be forever trapped in endless cycles, such a price is worth it."

Chen Hao's face showed an approving expression: "You are very brave, Grandmaster. Few people can maintain such rationality and objectivity when facing the words 'lose everything.'"

He could feel the deep determination within this woman, the courage to sacrifice everything for a greater goal.

At this moment, he seemed to see the figures of heroes in countless worlds who had fought fearlessly for the path of Preservation.

Some he knew, some he didn't. He supposed it was probably Qlipoth's memories.

"This will of yours," Chen Hao's voice carried a rare solemnity, "this determination to protect this planet and all life, has earned my respect. As the Preservation Star God, I hereby fulfill my promise."

As he spoke, the surrounding nebulae began to flow in a mysterious pattern, and the golden light became even more brilliant.

The Grandmaster felt a warm and powerful force envelop her entire body; it was a feeling of being recognized, of being blessed.

"Then," the Grandmaster asked calmly, "what should I do next? Do I need to collect the Seven Treasures?"

Chen Hao couldn't help but chuckle at her words: "Collect? No, it's not that troublesome."

He slowly raised his right hand, palm facing upwards. Immediately, the entire higher-dimensional space began to vibrate, and countless nebulae converged towards his palm as if pulled by an invisible force.

"How can the power of a Star God be such an inconvenient thing?"