"First of all — before we dive into any intricate details about the two massive armies," Theo raised a single finger, his tone firm and unyielding, "you must first cleanse your name within this entire sector. You stand accused of transforming into a demonic force and being a ruthless tyrant who shows mercy to none — these charges must be erased completely if we are to proceed."

"...And how am I supposed to do that?" Hedrick asked after a pause, his expression tightening as if weighing every word.

Theo's eyes glimmered faintly with cold confidence. "We already have what we need. We possess recordings proving that the Cursed Galaxy was the first to lend its power and resources to your enemies. And even more — we have a direct recording of the slain Marshal himself, speaking openly about his intent to intervene personally in your war." He spoke with neither joy nor malice, his tone the perfect equilibrium of logic. "In addition, we have the full footage of the battle that followed — every strike, every fleet movement, every curse unleashed — showing how many soldiers, weapons, and curses they brought with them. That alone makes it clear they never came in peace."

Theo leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. "But there's more. I also hold recordings of thousands of fleets that had been secretly prepared to attack you. And I have one from Lord Zarion himself — speaking in council, declaring that the time to invade your starfield with six thousand fleets was at hand. That evidence alone is enough to show that you never provoked the Cursed Galaxy; they were the aggressors. It will prove without question that you didn't attack Lord Zarion and his allies in the middle sector just because of what happened in the young one — you merely acted in self-defense."

"You have all that?!" Hedrick clenched his face, disbelief rippling through his voice as the weight of Theo's words settled in.

Theo nodded calmly, a faint smirk forming. "And I'll offer you one more gift — a decisive one. A full, unedited recording of the daylong battle between Marshal Tharn and the Cursed Galaxy's army, filmed from every possible angle. We'll leak it directly into the Soul Society for all to see. It shows Marshal Tharn's astonishing victory — three fleets against thirty enemy fleets. It will devastate the Cursed Galaxy's reputation and strike directly at the heart of their morale."

Even though Hedrick's army had entered that battle with overwhelming preparation — deploying the full might of his Imperial Guard, the planetary artillery, and the secret sabotage orchestrated by the Shadow Swords within several enemy ships — the footage would still depict an undeniable and spectacular triumph: thirty enemy fleets annihilated by three.

"That will only enrage Darvion the Cursed even more…" Hedrick muttered, his brows furrowing deeply.

"Let them be angry. Why should we care?" Theo's voice was almost casual as he waved a dismissive hand. "They're already burning with fury, already preparing to declare war. These recordings will expose them as invaders — trespassers who violated another Behemoth's sector without any provocation. To the outside world, you'll be seen as the heroic defender who stood firm against an unprovoked assault."

"Does it really matter how I appear to the public?" Hedrick's tone was colder now, almost bitter. "Do you honestly think the people will rise and take up arms to defend me?"

"You're right, Lord Hedrick," Theo admitted smoothly. "The public will not save you. But that's not the purpose of these recordings." His expression shifted, becoming sharper. "I've been holding them — waiting for the right moment. And now that the combined forces of Zavros the Savage and Darvion the Cursed are positioned right at the edge of the sector, preparing to cross the border and make their declaration... the moment has finally come."

"The time for what exactly?" Hedrick narrowed his eyes, suspicion rising. "You mean—" He caught himself, then waved irritably. "Forget it."

Theo turned to face him fully, the corners of his lips curving into a sly, knowing smile. "Why not?" he asked softly. "Why not turn this entire situation to your advantage? Formally request help from Bright Galaxy itself — ask them to repel the invaders threatening their own sector."

"You think Kaylis cares?" Hedrick scoffed. "Or that her arrogant son Orion will suddenly rush to help? They could've spoken up years ago if they wanted to."

Theo shook his head. "It doesn't matter what they want. Up until now, they could dismiss all this as nothing more than a feud — a personal dispute between you and Zarion, one that you started. But once we leak these recordings… the whole Soul Society will see the truth. Everyone will know it was an external conspiracy against you. And with just a bit of clever phrasing from our side, it'll look like a massive scheme to plunder the sector's wealth."

He took a step closer, lowering his voice once again. "All you have to do is make a public, official request for aid. Ask Kaylis to defend her protectorate — to shield you, her vassal, from the two Behemoths preparing to slaughter you while you remain under her protection. It will corner her — she'll have to respond, or risk appearing weak before the other Empires."

Theo's smile widened into something almost devilish. "That, my lord," he whispered, "will be the masterstroke that changes everything."

"...." Hedrick's expression shifted completely — the tension in his shoulders melted into a grim calm. Slowly, deliberately, he leaned back against his throne, letting the weight of the question hang in the air. "…And what will happen if shw refuse?" he finally asked, his tone deep, almost defiant.

"She won't refuse," Theo replied without hesitation, shaking his head ever so slightly. "Refusal, in a situation like this, would paint her as weak — pathetically weak — and show the entire universe that she can't even protect those under her care. And weakness, Lord Hedrick, is something no Behemoth can afford to display. At best, her rejection would buy you a few meaningless years of hollow negotiations with Behemoth Zavros and Behemoth Darvion. Eventually, they'd just fabricate an excuse — any excuse — to justify an invasion. But you must at least make this gesture; it will allow her to save face, and it might buy you the time you need."

Then Theo's lips curved into a thin, sharp smile. "And if, by some madness, she truly refuses — if the Pure Kaylis denies your plea — then that will be your opportunity to strike at Bright Galaxy itself, because your lady will have forfeited her legitimacy before all creation."

"...?!" Hedrick turned toward him abruptly, disbelief flashing across his features. "Have you lost your mind? You're telling me to challenge Kaylis herself? I can barely hold against the forces the Behemoths sent from another sector — and you want me to attack her as well?!"

"Forgive me, Lord Hedrick," Theo said softly, voice empty of warmth, "but if your attempt to draw Kaylis the Pure into the war fails, then the Crumbled Dreams Empire will, without question, be finished." His tone was calm, almost surgical. "Everything we're discussing now is merely about delaying the inevitable end — or finding ways to survive after it. You already lost the war the moment those armies gathered at your borders. The outcome is sealed. All that remains is to determine how you fall… or how little you lose when you do."

Silence stretched between them — long, heavy, suffocating.

"If you succeed in provoking Kaylis into acting, into stopping those reinforcements, then you'll earn yourself time — time to fight, to breathe, to claw for more solutions, to carve more miracles out of chaos. But if you fail…" Theo raised two fingers, his expression as still as stone. "If the Illumination Galaxy declares that the Pure Kaylis will not intervene — for any reason — then you'll face only two paths. One: abandon your empire, vanish from this sector entirely, and live the rest of your life in exile, nameless and forgotten. Or two…" He leaned forward slightly, eyes glinting darkly. "…Bet everything. Take your finest elites, your strongest fleets, and strike the Bright Galaxy."

"The official, public reason will be simple enough — vengeance. The world will believe you seek to avenge the betrayal of Kaylis when you needed them most, that you defended their holdings with honor while they stood idle and let you burn. But your true objective…" Theo's tone deepened, "…will be far greater. You will kill Kaylis the Pure and seize Bright itself — the galactic seed— and ascend as a new Behemoth."

"Kaylis The Pure is powerful, yes," Theo continued, his words like cold iron. "But you, Lord Hedrick, are a now Monarch of the Crumbling Law. You've learned how to wield the Major Law of Destruction itself. Even with the spirit of the galaxy feeding her abilities, you still have a chance. And if you cannot even overcome her… then you have no right to dream of defeating your father later. Kill her. Once Bright falls and becomes yours, once its essence merges with you, you'll stand again within this sector as a Behemoth reborn. Your dream will cease to be fantasy — you'll claim a galaxy's soul in a single strike. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying to your face."

Then Theo's eyes flickered, opening a fraction wider, revealing the swirling abyss of blackness within them — a darkness that seemed alive. His voice dropped to a near whisper. "Your war in over, the age of armies has ended, Lord Hedrick. The time of politics has begun. Now comes the era of the decisive blow — one that can topple a Behemoth… or destroy you in turn."

"....?!" Hedrick stared deeply into Theo's dark, endless eyes, his pulse unsteady, his mind grasping for understanding. "…Who are you, really?"

The young man with the void-black gaze let a faint smile curve his lips, a smile that was equal parts shadow and revelation. "A Shadow Sword,"

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