Chapter 261: How much?

[: 3rd POV :]

A solemn silence settled inside the meeting chamber after Daniel words.

The excitement from the previous gathering had gradually faded, replaced by expressions of concentration.

This meeting would determine the future direction of Vahl’Zareth.

Around the enormous circular table sat the fourteen rulers alongside Daniel, Mika, and Erika.

Every one of them now bore the surname Vahl’Zareth, signifying that they were no longer merely rulers of separate races.

They were now one family, one faction, one kingdom and one future.

Demon King Xerath Vahl’Zareth Malachor leaned back against his throne, his burning golden eyes half lidded in contemplation.

Beast King Kaelgor Ironclaw Vahl’Zareth remained perfectly still, his massive hands resting calmly upon the armrests while quietly observing Daniel.

Dragon Empress Sylthara Drakoria Vahl’Zareth sat elegantly, her crystalline dragon scales reflecting countless colors beneath the palace lights.

Dwarf King Thrain Stoneforge Vahl’Zareth folded his thick muscular arms while absentmindedly stroking his rune braided beard.

Spirit Empress Sylvene Lumina Vahl’Zareth shimmered gently, her spiritual body fading between physical and ethereal existence.

Elf Empress Caelira Etheria Vahl’Zareth remained graceful as always, her expression calm and impossible to read.

Human Empress Melira Vahl’Zareth looked toward her son with both pride and concern hidden within her beautiful eyes.

Golden King Aurelius Solvain Vahl’Zareth radiated quiet dignity.

Summoner Emperor Eldric Vaelor Vahl’Zareth continuously observed several floating magic circles that revolved around his fingertips.

Holiness King Seraphion Hale Vahl’Zareth sat peacefully while faint holy light naturally gathered around his body.

Beauty Queen Liliy Arcania Vahl’Zareth wore her usual gentle smile.

Yet behind that smile hid an incredibly sharp gaze.

Azure Emperor Zephyron Aethril Vahl’Zareth occasionally released tiny arcs of lightning across his fingertips.

Phoenix Force Ignivara Vahl’Zareth seemed surrounded by an eternal flame that never diminished.

Void King Noctyrr Malphas Vahl’Zareth quietly sat in silence while the surrounding space subtly distorted around his existence.

At the very center...Daniel slowly stood.

Everyone immediately directed their attention toward him.

Daniel took a slow breath.

"There is something I have yet to explain."

Everyone listened attentively.

"It concerns the true requirements needed for Mika to evolve."

Mika herself blinked.

"So...you finally decided to tell everyone."

Daniel nodded.

"They deserve to know."

The room immediately became serious.

Daniel slowly looked toward everyone.

"I’ve already learned the exact requirements from both Mika and the Will of the Universe."

He paused briefly.

"The road before us...is much harder than any of us imagined."

No one interrupted.

Even Xerath’s usual smile gradually disappeared.

Daniel continued calmly.

"Our current objective....is to evolve Mika from a High Tier Planet...into a Divine Low Tier Planet."

Everyone nodded.

That much they already knew.

Then Daniel calmly spoke the next sentence.

"To accomplish that..."

"We must conquer..."

"...one thousand High Tier Planets."

Silence.

"..."

Nobody reacted.

Not because they understood.

But because their minds had completely frozen.

Daniel calmly continued before anyone could process it.

"In addition..."

"We must conquer...ten thousand Mid Tier Planets."

The silence deepened.

"And finally...one hundred thousand Low Tier Planets."

The room...completely froze.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Nobody moved or blinked.

Even breathing seemed to stop.

Several long seconds passed then...Dwarf King Thrain suddenly stood up so quickly that his chair crashed backward.

"...What?"

His voice echoed loudly throughout the chamber.

"No."

"No."

"I definitely heard that wrong."

He looked around desperately.

"I heard him wrong, didn’t I?"

Nobody answered.

Because everyone else looked equally horrified.

Beast King Kaelgor slowly rubbed his forehead.

"...Daniel."

"I know you’ve always liked making impossible things sound possible..."

"...but surely...surely you misplaced a few zeros."

Daniel smiled helplessly.

"I wish I did."

Kaelgor immediately slumped back into his chair.

Beauty Queen Lily covered her mouth.

"...One thousand High Tier Planets...?"

"...Ten thousand Mid Tier..."

"...One hundred thousand Low Tier..."

She slowly looked toward Daniel.

"...Darling..." She called not in terms of love, but rather how she calls every person like that.

"...are we building a civilization..."

"...or conquering half the Universe?"

Even Daniel laughed softly.

"Perhaps both."

Golden King Aurelius slowly pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I’ve ruled kingdoms for hundreds of years."

"I’ve managed countless wars."

"But..."

He let out a helpless laugh.

"I’ve never imagined counting conquered planets by the hundreds of thousands."

Summoner Emperor Eldric began calculating almost instinctively.

Several glowing magical formulas floated around him.

After several moments...

He suddenly stopped.

"...Impossible."

Everyone looked toward him.

He slowly raised his head.

"I’ve calculated several possible conquest rates."

"Even if we conquered..."

"...one planet every single day..."

He paused.

"It would still require centuries."

Silence.

Phoenix Force Ignivara frowned deeply.

"...And that’s assuming every conquest succeeds immediately."

"Without setbacks, resistance or casualties."

Dragon Empress Sylthara crossed her arms.

"...There is no such thing as perfect conquest."

Void King Noctyrr finally spoke.

"...Meaning..."

"...our greatest enemy..."

"...isn’t strength."

He slowly looked toward Daniel.

"...It’s time."

Daniel nodded.

"Exactly."

Those simple words made everyone’s hearts grow heavy.

Spirit Empress Sylvene sighed softly.

"I finally understand why Faction has come into creation"

"Because I don’t think nobody else would even dare attempt something like this."

Human Empress Melira quietly looked at Daniel.

"...How much time..."

"...does we have?"

Daniel became silent.

Melira knew that her son won’t bring up such an information without any reason. She could sense that something else is bothering him.

Several moments later...

"I don’t know."

"But..."

"It isn’t enough."

That answer made everyone lower their heads.

For the first time...the weight resting upon Daniel’s shoulders became truly visible.

He wasn’t simply trying to grow stronger.

He wasn’t simply building an empire.

He wasn’t doing all of this just for fun or to flaunt his powers.

He was racing against the death of the Universe itself.

Caelira slowly smiled.

"You know..."

Everyone looked toward her.

"When I first met Daniel..."

"I thought he was merely an extraordinary child."

She chuckled softly.

"Now..."

"I’m listening to him explain how we’ll conquer over a hundred thousand planets."

Several rulers laughed helplessly.

Even Daniel scratched his cheek awkwardly.

Thrain suddenly burst into loud laughter.

"HAHAHAHA!"

Everyone looked toward him.

"What?"

"If we’re already this crazy..."

"Then let’s become even crazier!"

"Isn’t that the meaning of our name, Vahl’Zareth?"

He slammed his fist onto the table.

"So what if it’s one hundred thousand planets?"

"So what if it’s ten thousand?"

"So what if it’s one thousand High Tier worlds?"

He grinned broadly.

"We’re Vahl’Zareth!"

"If anyone’s insane enough to accomplish something impossible..."

He pointed directly at Daniel.

"It’s that kid and us as well!"

Xerath immediately laughed.

"Hahaha!"

"Finally."

"Something worthy of our new beginning."

Kaelgor slowly smiled.

"I suppose ordinary goals would be boring."

Ignivara nodded.

"If the road were easy..."

"It wouldn’t be worth walking."

Lily leaned against her chair gracefully.

"I’ve always preferred impossible challenges."

Zephyron cracked his neck.

"Then let’s make history."

Noctyrr’s distorted voice quietly echoed.

"...No."

"We’ll rewrite history."

One after another...the rulers began smiling again.

The overwhelming pressure that had nearly crushed the room gradually transformed into determination.

Daniel watched them quietly.

Then...

He smiled.

"Thank you."

Everyone looked toward him.

"I won’t lie to any of you."

"The road ahead will be unimaginably difficult."

"We’ll face enemies stronger than ourselves."

"We’ll encounter factions older than civilizations."

"Pantheons."

"Sovereigns."

"Sects."

"Clans."

"Constellations."

"There will be days when victory seems impossible."

He slowly clenched his fist.

"But..."

"I promise every one of you..."

His golden eyes shone brilliantly.

"We won’t stop."

The rulers slowly stood together.

No one ordered them to do so.

No one needed to.

Each of them looked toward Daniel.

Toward their Progenitor.

Toward the future of Vahl’Zareth.

Then...

With smiles filled with excitement rather than fear...

Every ruler spoke together.

"We’ll conquer them."