Descent of Madness

A tumultuous upheaval shook the higher ups of the Human Dao Alliance, plunging it into chaos and disorder.

The Alliance, smaller and possessing a comparably weaker military, suffered a considerable blow with the loss of potential Admirals.

The information relayed to the Alliance Leader was not only incomplete but even more enigmatic than the reports received by the Empire.

The demise of the Admiralty had yet to be officially confirmed; they had mysteriously vanished without a trace, leaving the Alliance bereft of any knowledge regarding their whereabouts.

The Empire's Fleet Commander cunningly exploited the trump card possessed by the Alliance, employing ruthless tactics that seemed unfathomable and incredulous.

Nevertheless, there was no alternative but to begrudgingly accept this harsh reality.

Perusing the report, the Leader fell into a momentary silence, contemplating the far-reaching consequences this predicament held for their military.

After carefully considering the matter, the Leader finally spoke, "I propose dispatching an Exploration Fleet to scour the area near the battlefield in search of our missing fleets."

The Supreme Elder, a prominent figure present in the grand Hall, offered his perspective on the matter at hand. "Our Military pales in comparison to that of the Empire, owing to our smaller population and a meager percentage of individuals willing to join the esteemed Military Academy."

"Furthermore, the number of individuals successfully attaining the rank of Lieutenant is even lower, let alone discovering the rare, one-in-two-billion prodigies who hold the potential to become future luminaries of the Admiralty. Hence, locating these exceptional young talents, who achieved the Admiralty rank at such a tender age, would be of immeasurable value to our military."

"That is my viewpoint," the Supreme Elder concluded, sharing his thoughts with each elder and the Leader gathered in the illustrious hall.

"My sentiments align with those of the Supreme Elder."

"I, too, concur with the esteemed views of the Supreme Elder!"

A mild stir rippled through the assembly, ultimately culminating in unanimous agreement among all the Elders present in the grand hall, solidifying their endorsement of the Supreme Elder's words.

"Now, it falls upon the Alliance Leader to voice their perspective," the Supreme Elder stated.

The Leader cast a thoughtful gaze upon the assembly, a faint smile adorning their countenance. "I wholeheartedly concur. Issue my orders without delay. Launch a thorough search for the missing Admirals."

"As you wish, Your Excellency!" The Elder from the Military Department, present in the hall, bowed respectfully and promptly departed to convey the Leader's commands.

"Well, this protracted war of attrition undoubtedly exacts a heavy toll, yet it serves as the driving force behind our Alliance's relentless pursuit of loftier achievements," remarked the erudite Elder of the Education Department.

"Indeed, regardless of the lamentations surrounding its pitfalls and the sacrifices endured, the undeniable growth it engenders is irrefutable. Were it not for this crucible, perhaps our very existence would have been imperiled," the Alliance Leader nodded in agreement, offering a thoughtful response.

"And therein lies a sorrowful irony—becoming an enduring impetus to perpetuate this war," mused the Supreme Elder in poignant silence, his countenance bearing a tinge of melancholy.

—

As the Eternal Empire and the Human Dao Alliance locked horns in their unyielding war of attrition, enduring significant casualties and equipment losses, there existed a formidable entity that observed the spectacle from the sidelines with unabated interest.

This entity was none other than the unrivaled hegemon of interstellar trade and commerce—the Thoughtless Spirits Chambers of Commerce, widely acclaimed as the Thoughtless Spirits Square.

Initially, the overseer of the chambers of commerce harbored modest aspirations, envisioning a profitable venture that would establish an unparalleled hub for trade and commerce, poised to endure for countless generations.

However, over time, this ambition metamorphosed into an insatiable chasm of avarice. Having attained unrivaled supremacy in terms of resources, treasures, and wealth, the overseer now hungered for something far grander.

This newfound greed was to ascend as the ultimate paragon of humanity, the Scion of a New Era. However, the overseer was acutely aware that despite possessing an abundance of riches within the vast expanse of the starry skies, they still lacked the essential ingredient—a formidable war machine capable of materializing their desires.

Concealing the bottomless abyss of his insatiable desires even from those closest to him, he bided his time, awaiting the opportune moment to seize all that he coveted.

Alas, this unquenchable thirst for boundless power and authority eventually consumed him, driving him to the brink of madness.

His voracious ambition knew no bounds, far exceeding what was deemed prudent or reasonable.

Subsequently, during a fateful night, a divine intervention materialized in his dreams, forever shattering the remnants of his sanity.

In that dark hour, he transformed into an embodiment of unbridled greed, forsaking all vestiges of his humanity.

Only his corporeal form retained its human semblance, adorned with a face displaying a humanoid expression, a mere vestige of his former self.

Following that fateful night, a deluge of similar "Divine Revelations" inundated his nocturnal reveries.

During the daylight hours, he would occasionally descend into bouts of madness, erupting into maniacal laughter without apparent cause.

Yet, paradoxically, no soul ever unraveled the enigma behind his peculiar behavior, for he remained impeccably discreet.

As he delved deeper into these enigmatic "Divine Revelations," the realm of crime witnessed an unprecedented surge, plunging the Thoughtless Spirits Starfield into an abyss of chaos.

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