Chapter 767: The Race for Survival

A month later, as the dimensional-scale dark gate was activated, the void began to tremble as ripples spread through space.

Afterward, like a massive sinkhole opening, everything began to get sucked toward seven directions. From dark beasts, energy, and matter, every particle unconsciously drifted toward them.

Fortunately, before they swallowed everything like a black hole, a giant mesh bound everything in place, letting only the corruptive force and dark beasts pass through.

“Is the dark energy thinning out?” Nash asked, letting the Eternal Star Alliance’s detection technology scan the surrounding area.

Seeing the graph rise instead of fall, Nash frowned. Continuing to investigate, they finally found why the dark energy density was increasing.

“So it’s pulling energy from the Chaotic Void.”

The Chaotic Void was a place outside the universe plane. Activating the dimensional-scale dark gate was basically the same as opening a connection to the outside of the universe.

Instead of purifying the Empyrean Will Primogenal Land, it pulled in dark substance, further corrupting the land.

From a broader perspective, the objective of the dimensional-scale dark gate was likely to purify the dark energy surrounding the Empyrean Will Primogenal Land. This would, in turn, make it easier for the Universe Plane to absorb it and incorporate it into another Galactic Territory.

From the dark gates that absorbed internal corruption to the dimensional-scale dark gates that absorbed external corruption, it was a closed loop that could thoroughly purify the void.

“I see…”

Having understood the essence of the dark gates, Nash began polishing his plans and strategies for the Eternal Star Alliance.

Opening the communication module, Nash issued his order. “The race has started, proceed according to plan…”

Receiving his order, everyone in the Eternal Star Alliance moved swiftly. From various battleships fresh out of production to the Eternal Military Outposts, everyone was quickly transported out to the coordinates of the foreign cosmic teams.

Although the major-level and top-level teams had already allied, hundreds of thousands of high-level teams and countless mid- and low-level teams were still on their own, barely surviving.

Their goal on this trip was to recruit as many cosmic teams as possible before the danger reached its peak and killed them.

Led by Teal and other top-level leaders, they mobilized over 30,000 Eternal Military Outposts across the void.

—

On the other side of the void, the Silverleaf Team Alliance was being swarmed by dark beasts. If the dark beasts were only tier 7-8, no matter the number, it wouldn’t have been a problem. However, what was facing them was an orderly group of lord-level Tier 8 dark beasts, slowly chipping away at their array barrier.

“This can’t go on. Have you contacted the major alliances?” Garrick, the leader of the Silverleaf Team Alliance, asked worriedly.

“Negative, leader. The virtual network was corrupted.”

Because of the dark origin essence, the virtual network’s fragile connection had finally collapsed. Even with the Altier Arcane Tower’s amplification, the signal was as fragile as a twig in a storm.

“It’s over! It’s over!”

“Leader! Calm down, we can still escape through the dark gates!”

Connected to the dark plane, the dark gates could take them to the universe plane with the help of the Void Administrator.

“Do you think we can last until it opens?” Garrick said numbly.

Although the cosmic elites were sure to escape, their people would be in peril. Their numbers were in the quintillions; a few dark gates would take years to get everyone out.

Remembering this, despair flooded everyone’s hearts. They should have left long ago, they should have joined one of the major alliances, they shouldn’t have been so greedy.

“Wait, I remember! The Universal Runic System!” Glimpsing a flash of light in the darkness, Garrick opened the communication module. Lo and behold, it still worked perfectly, with the Eternal Star Alliance announcement pinned at the top.

[This is the Eternal Star Alliance. For everyone in danger, we are willing to send reinforcements and shelter…]

Reading the long announcement, Garrick finally felt hope. The others who had the Universal Runic System also read the announcement, giving smiles on their lips.

“We’re saved!”

“As expected of the Universal Runic System. I thought the rumor that it could even work in the unexplored domain area was just a rumor.”

“We’re lucky we uploaded the Universal Runic System…”

In order to campaign widely and invite other cosmic teams, the Eternal Star Alliance had sent liaisons to every public trading zone, gifting everyone a foreign version of the Universal Runic System. Although it was somewhat invasive and suspicious, with its versatility and the chance to earn money through the Combat Tower, most cosmic elites still accepted it.

Who knew it could be their saving grace in times of disaster?

Not wasting any more time, Garrick sent their coordinates to seek help. Although asking for reinforcements was not cheap, it was still better than dying. Even if they couldn’t afford it, they could still join the Eternal Star Alliance and become a part of the alliance.

Suddenly, just when they were about to pray for their timely arrival, the void tore open as a massive outpost appeared. Then, like a nest of dragons, thousands upon thousands of battleships poured out, tearing apart the swarm of dark beasts like paper.

“This—”

As the battleships spread out to clear the dark beasts at a distance, the Eternal Military Outpost stood still, like a door god protecting them from all disasters.

“We should have bought an Eternal Military Outpost long ago…”

Although it was expensive, it was quite reliable. However, thinking of the Chaos Stones needed to power it up, they quickly came back to their senses. Like an expensive sports car, even if it were free, they couldn’t afford the gas to drive it out.

Before long, the frenzied swarm of dark beasts slowly calmed down. Wanting to thank the Eternal Star Alliance personally, Garrick and the others boarded a ship to the Eternal Military Outpost.

Granted entry, they were guided along the way and landed at the outpost without issue.

“Welcome. Do you have any more needs?” Dorian, the outpost commander, welcomed them and asked.

“No, no. We just want to thank you.”

“It’s not a problem. It’s our duty.”

“That—another thing is that we want to join the Eternal Star Alliance… Are there any requirements? Is there something we need to do?” Garrick asked.

Unable to pay the Eternal Star Alliance for their service, the Silverleaf Team Alliance could only give up autonomy.

“You don’t need to do or offer anything. After joining the Eternal Star Alliance, everyone is equal. As long as you work hard and have enough ability, you can have anything.”

“Really?” Normally, joining a major alliance meant sacrificing everything. Not only would their treatment hit rock bottom, they might even be treated as slaves or cannon fodder.

“Don’t worry, you should have read the rules of the Eternal Star Alliance through the communication module. As long as you don’t commit crimes, no one can harm you.”

“That’s good…” Heaving a sigh of relief, they couldn’t help but look forward to settling into their new home.

“After we clear the area, we’ll take you directly to our territory.”

Using the dimensional-scale teleportation array, they could directly transport the Silverleaf Team Alliance. Although expensive, they had more than enough Chaos Stones to burn through.

—

Soon, as the surrounding area was cleared, just when Dorian was about to call headquarters to activate the dimensional-scale teleportation array and take them out, another tear in the void appeared.

Coming out was a massive void beast, suppressing the space around it.

“The people from the Ancient Race Alliance? What are they doing here?” Dorian muttered in puzzlement.

“I could ask you the same! What are you doing in our territory? Didn’t the rules say that each of us can only venture out in our own territory?!” Brogan, riding atop the massive void beast, said angrily.

“We were called here for help by the Silverleaf Team Alliance, which is now a part of the Eternal Star Alliance. Furthermore, the previous rules were made when only seven major alliances existed. They don’t count!” Dorian said forcefully.

One major problem for the Eternal Star Alliance, as well as the Grand Race Sovereign Alliance and the God Emperor Knight Alliance, was their lack of territory.

Having just ascended to the level of a major alliance, they were not included in the previous treaty and thus weren’t demarcated a territory. Aside from the Forbidden Domain and the dozens of surrounding unclaimed domain areas, they owned nothing.

Meanwhile, each of the seven major teams had thousands of domain areas that they didn’t even use after the top-level teams grouped together.

“Hmph! If you don’t recognize the treaty, then be prepared for retribution!” Along with the territorial division, the treaty also came with a peace agreement. If they didn’t recognize it, they could rightfully declare war.

“So what? Come and attack us if you dare!” Dorian didn’t flinch.

Although they were still worse than the seven major alliances when it came to overall power, they weren’t easy to defeat either.

Furthermore, while they had broken some rules, they hadn’t damaged the other side’s territory. If argued, at most their actions constituted commercial warfare.

“You’re from the Silverleaf Team Alliance, right? Are you being threatened by these people? Just tell me, and I’ll give you justice. Don’t worry, our supreme leader already knows about the situation here. As long as you are willing to follow our orders, we can protect your safety,” Brogan asked.

Dealing with the Eternal Star Alliance could wait, he had the more important task of bringing the Silverleaf Team Alliance to their side.