The Martial Unity

Rui nodded thoughtfully. “We’re trying to capture a gargantian specimen that we have run into.”

Those words clearly agitated the laminar integument. “Run. Into. Gargantian. Specimen?”

“Yep, it appears that the gargantians have recently put an outpost in this star strand,” Rui remarked. “We know it must be recent because light from the planet has not yet reached our solar system, which means that it must have occurred within the past twenty or so years.”

The laminar integument processed those words deeply as the network of light flashing through its transparent laminar body grew more intense. “Troubling. Discovery. Must. Report. Back. To Laminar. Council.”

Its attention returned towards Rui. “Why. Capture. Specimen? Exotic. Resources?”

“Not just that,” Rui replied thoughtfully. “We are trying to recreate the planetary reproduction method that the conscious planet has used.”

This clearly impacted the laminar integument. “Recreate. Reproduction. Method?”

“Yeah,” Rui replied with a nod. “We have some terraforming technology, especially the elves, but nothing we have will allow us to capture ten thousand stars in ten years and convert countless worlds to become habitable in that short a timeframe. However, the sheer speed at which the gargantians must have expanded across the cosmos makes me think that their reproduction method is millions of times more cost-effective and time-effective than ours. Thus…”

He turned towards the laminar integument. “We want to harness its reproduction method and see if we can use it to expand across the cosmos at an extremely high rate.”

The light within the laminar integument grew more intense. “Strongly. Not. Recommend. Not. Advisable. Risks. For. Virus. Resurrection. Very. High.”

The light within the laminar integument grew more intense. “Strongly. Not. Recommend. Not. Advisable. Risks. For. Virus. Resurrection. Very. High.”

Rui frowned at those words.

He understood where the laminar integument was coming from, of course. Gaia was safe only because of its safety measures. However, if Gaia reproduced across the Orion Star Strand, then it was possible that her offspring would inherit the virus and potentially even explode before Rui could detect and stop it in time.

“Such. Instances. Happened. For. Gargs. Five. Percent. Mutation. Probability. Very. Dangerous,” the laminar integument warned him. “Do. Not. Attempt. Planetary. Reproduction.”

Rui fell into thought as his expression grew severe. He hadn’t expected that this would become a source of friction between them. Unfortunately, he couldn’t change his mind in that regard.

“I will personally ensure that such a thing doesn’t happen, the gargantians do not have an information dimension wielder like myself who can remain despite using the information dimension that makes me astronomically more effective than others of my ilk,” he told the laminar integument with a serious expression. “However, I cannot heed your words. The reality is that we have enemies that have likely detected the virus’s high-priority SOS call. It’s possible that other nebulars are also on their way to target this world upon orders from the virus. On top of that…”

10:57

He gazed at the cosmos with a serious expression. “We must grow stronger if we want to take care of the larger threat. I can’t allow some risks to stop the expansion of human civilization.”

The laminar integument understood that they wouldn’t see eye to eye on the matter. Normally, the Laminar Civilization could just force a Type-Two Civilization to adhere to their commands as they did with civilizations under their control, but in this case, it was not possible.

It was not possible because Rui was a Martial Transcendent. One that could remain. That allowed Gaian Civilization to punch far above its weight class. Because even if there did exist a weaker civilization that had obtained a wielder of the source realm, they couldn’t remain after a single battle, making it relatively easy to get rid of them even if they were often unstoppable in that one battle.

In his case, however, his power was a permanent fixture within human civilization.

“This. Action. To. Divide. Laminar. Council,” the Tendril of Light tried to warn him. “No. Longer. Be. Able. Offer. Help. On. Behalf. Civilization.”

That was a difficult thing to hear. Rui’s expression grew complex at those words. He deeply wanted to establish some deep cooperation between the two civilizations beyond just a peace treaty and intel exchanges, but also some kind of security agreement or deeper trade.

But that had proved to be impossible. He could trade with the laminars present within the solar system, but he could not trade with the laminar civilization as a whole because they were too far away and in a distant star strand.

He shook his head.

“So be it. I appreciate the laminar civilization and its engagement with us, but Gaian Civilization needs to grow stronger by itself. I hope you will continue to adhere to our peace treaty and intel exchanges agreement. However, if you’re unwilling to enter into a security agreement with us. Then you cannot blame us for doing everything we can to expand and grow stronger as fast as we can, especially when we do face incoming threats.”

The reality was that even if the laminar civilization agreed to securing them, he would still push to do the exact same thing. He wouldn’t allow Gaian Civilization to become extremely dependent on anybody, not even him, let alone a quasi-Type-Three alien civilization that had great dominance in a major star strand.

The Tendril of Light also understood this, of course. They simply reached an impasse on the matter. “Understood, will convey intentions to the Laminar Council. Most. Likely. Outcome: division. Frosting. Relations. Political. Will. To. Help. Will. Reduce. Consequences. Acceptable?”

“They are acceptable if that is what it takes to become truly powerful,” Rui replied. “Over the next ten years, we will conquer and colonize every star within a hundred light-years. After that…”

His eyes sharpened.

“We will conquer the entirety of the Orion Star Strand and aim for the Galactic Core.”

The laminar integument appeared moved by the sheer weight of the ambition he displayed. “Galactic. Core. Is. Battlefield. To. Control. Galaxy. Only. Most. Powerful. Challengers. Allowed. In.”

Rui smiled.

“We’ll be there.”

He swore.

“We’ll be there one day.”