Chapter 7: The Final Countdown

Blue Star, above the Great Rift Valley of East Africa.

The Storm, with its massive and incredibly oppressive form, represented endless calamity and unquestionable power. Faced with the combined assault of all the powerhouses of Blue Star, direct hits from the planet's most formidable weapons, and the fierce onslaught of the remaining alien fleet, the Storm merely flapped its two pairs of wings, which seemed capable of blotting out the sun and sky.

The wings generated a roar like a hurricane, tearing through the atmosphere and sending terrifying tidal waves crashing toward all who dared to resist. This ultimate, violent power planted deep terror into the hearts of every rebel present, sowing the seeds of fear in the depths of their souls. The Storm, like an aloof emperor or a god, looked down upon these fragile lives with the gaze reserved only for those at the absolute pinnacle of existence. Some weak-willed aliens stared at the Storm, their minds echoing with the urge to kneel; this was a force that could not be defeated, and they had already done all they could.

Seemingly satisfied with the performance of the ants, the Storm finally began to move. It flapped its wings of despair and departed the Great Rift Valley. Like an emperor on a royal procession, it unleashed a presence as heavy as Mount Tai, pressing down fiercely upon the lives of Blue Star, forcing these ants to acknowledge its existence. As the Storm passed, the sky trembled violently, and the earth was shrouded in the shadow of the behemoth. Even a fleeting passage caused the ground to crack and the surface to shatter.

To the eyes of Blue Star’s inhabitants, the Storm was like a sentient natural disaster. Under its divine might, the sky grew dim and suffocating. The planet was engulfed in an apocalyptic atmosphere, with cries of grief, pleas for mercy, curses, and madness surging like a tsunami into every corner. The sky and the earth had been dyed the color of despair; civilization and life itself were about to vanish in the face of the greatest catastrophe in human history!

The countdown to the Great Extinction had begun.

***

Somewhere in the starry expanse, there existed a super-massive planet. This planet was enveloped in an incredibly dense dragon aura, so potent that the golden mist was visible to the naked eye.

In one region of the planet lay a cluster of majestic and awe-inspiring palaces. This complex, known as the Epang Palace, had been recreated by the First Emperor of Qin using the divine Qin-Stabilizing Sword and his own godlike powers. Consequently, the entire palace complex radiated an endless divine charm—at once domineering and wondrous.

Above the Epang Palace, two giant dragons were locked in combat. Both possessed antlers like a deer, heads like a camel, eyes like a rabbit, necks like a snake, bellies like a clam, scales like a fish, claws like an eagle, palms like a tiger, and ears like an ox. One dragon was black with crimson eyes and wings, while the other was white with pale eyes and wings. Both were True Dragon Gods; although they had perfectly controlled the release of their power, they could still easily tear through space, making the very sky of the planet seem as if it were on the verge of collapse.

The dragon might shook the heavens and covered the earth; their roars were like thunder piercing the ears, and their dragon breath possessed the terrifying power to annihilate everything it touched. The battle between the two dragons was earth-shattering. The sky was burned to a glow, and the shockwaves from their struggle continued to erupt.

After hundreds of rounds of fierce combat, the two True Dragon Gods finally separated, each occupying half of the sky. The Black Dragon God transformed into a tall, burly man wearing black dragon robes and a crown with hanging beads, his imperial aura piercing the heavens—he was the First Emperor of Qin. The White Dragon God transformed into a majestic man wearing yellow dragon robes and a crown with hanging beads, his imperial aura boundless and vast—he was Emperor Wu of Han.

Emperor Wu of Han looked at the First Emperor of Qin and said, "First Emperor, how long do you intend to keep those aliens who call themselves Augusti?"

"I have my own plans. Emperor Wu, if you are willing to submit to me, I wouldn't mind telling you."

"In your dreams!"

Seeing that the First Emperor would not reveal even a shred of information, Emperor Wu of Han felt bored and left with a wave of his hand. The First Emperor watched him leave with indifference, snorted coldly, and returned to the Epang Palace.

In the Lan Chi Palace, the First Emperor closed his eyes, peering into the future. "Hmm? The future has changed again. Has something happened at the Origin Ancestor Star?" he muttered to himself, before reaching out to contact the Imperial Seal of Succession, which was still on the Origin Ancestor Star. If the Seal were being used, he would certainly be able to detect it, for he was its first master and its creator.

"Heh, the Imperial Seal has actually been activated, and by a god, no less. It seems the Origin Ancestor Star has revived. Wait, the state of the Imperial Seal is... not good?"

The First Emperor opened his eyes, transformed into his Dragon God form, and flew toward the Heaven-Ascending Terrace. There, he divined what had occurred on the Origin Ancestor Star. After several dozen breaths, his expression turned grave.

"The Beast of the End has descended, and the universe is heading toward its conclusion?" The First Emperor sighed. "The Beast of the End can be dealt with, but the Origin Ancestor Star is already beyond saving."

Just as he was about to close his eyes again, a sudden thought crossed his mind. "No! That's not right! My intuition tells me there is an anomaly!"

The First Emperor pondered for two breaths, then withdrew one of the three great divine swords, the Qin-Stabilizing Sword, and called out, "Marquis of Wu'an!"

A general clad in divine armor appeared behind the First Emperor and bowed. "Your Majesty! What are your orders?"

The First Emperor reached into the void with his right hand, and a divine sword immediately manifested. It carried a terrifying, profound aura of slaughter, appearing exceptionally vicious. This overbearing and formidable weapon was one of the three great divine swords in his possession: the Gulu Divine Sword!

"This Gulu Divine Sword—I grant it to you now. Go and purge the traitors for me!"

"As you command!"

The First Emperor looked at Bai Qi, the divine general who had accepted the sword, and nodded with satisfaction.

***

"Boom! Boom!!!"

The massive Epang Palace rose from the ground, ascending into the high heavens. The actions of the First Emperor quickly stirred the other human emperors on the planet.

In a certain part of the planet, in a grand ancient Roman theater, Caesar and Octavian were watching Nero perform. Noticing the First Emperor's major move, the two exchanged a glance. Dressed in their robes, they ignored Nero and departed immediately, leaving him to continue his performance alone. The soldier-spirits of the Roman Empire suddenly received the order from the Augustus and began to gather, preparing to march upon the Origin Ancestor Star.

Elsewhere, within the Weiyang Palace, Emperor Wu of Han, having just returned, was preparing to meditate when he sensed the First Emperor's movements. He immediately summoned the divine general Wei Qing and ordered him to find the Guangwu Emperor, the monarch known as the Son of the Plane. Emperor Wu then summoned the divine general Huo Qubing, ordering him to assemble the spirits of the four elite legions. Nearly a million strong, the massive army blotted out the sun, emitting thunderous roars and possessing a momentum capable of defying the heavens and slaying gods.

***

The human emperors living on this super-massive planet, spurred by the First Emperor, began to set their sights on the distant Origin Ancestor Star—the place where they had made their names, and their original home. To oppose the gods and uphold the supremacy of human emperors, they had gathered here, seeking the opportunity to force the gods to bow before imperial power.

Ultimately, they aimed to replace the gods in the hearts of humanity, so that mankind would revere only their emperors!