A different world game? A different world game!

Popper's voice, like a divine oracle, continued to echo in this space filled with awe and greed:

"Of course, the blessings of this 'golden age' are the world's reward to all those who struggle. But the will of the world is fair, and its gaze will be fixed on every figure in the struggle against the end times."

"Your sacrifices, your contributions, and your courage will be remembered. When the golden age arrives, the world's blessings will be bestowed upon you according to this 'merit,' like raindrops falling unevenly yet justly."

"Those who contribute the most will reap the greatest rewards!"

She paused slightly, her gaze sweeping over the representatives who were grieving over the impending loss of their homeland:

"As for what happens after the apocalypse... the rebuilding of the world."

Popper's voice softened, carrying a hint of absolute confidence in the Night's Watch's power: "You have all witnessed the City of the Ring, and the Night's Watch's skill and management."

"Believe me, our power extends far beyond war. The Night's Watch will be the strongest foundation for rebuilding civilization from ruins."

"The more intact the Leviathan continent is, the more solid the foundation for reconstruction will be, and the faster your homeland will be restored... will far exceed your imagination."

"The achievements of the Night's Watch over the past decades are sufficient proof of this."

As Popper finished speaking, Silver Glow subsided slightly. She slowly stepped back, leaving the space to Aliris once again.

However, an eerie silence fell over the entire Hall of the Universe.

It was no longer the deathly silence of before, but a kind of speechlessness after being overwhelmed by immense hope and more complex desires.

Everyone's chest heaved violently, their minds echoing with those four words—"Golden Age"—and that ultimate temptation—"Godhood."

The silent ice has been broken, and beneath it surges magma called ambition.

Yesterday's intimidation extinguished the flames of resistance, but today's promise of a "golden age" has ignited a more intense and dangerous flame in everyone's hearts.

The meeting continued, but the atmosphere had completely changed.

"A golden age...the opportunity to become a god..."

"Continued for thousands of years... Law affinity... Bottleneck loosened..."

"The more you contribute, the more you reap..."

These words seemed to possess a magical power, resonating and echoing repeatedly in the minds of each representative.

The pain of abandoning their homeland and the fear of the Night's Watch's iron-fisted methods were now replaced by a more primal and fervent desire.

Become a god!

This is the ultimate goal that mortal life can imagine, an eternal temptation that transcends dynastic changes and the rise and fall of races.

Even those old monsters who had long stood at the pinnacle of legend and felt their future was over, now had a terrifying glint in their turbid eyes, and their withered fingers trembled slightly with excitement.

Not to mention those strong individuals who have been stuck at their bottlenecks for many years, and the younger generation who dream of surpassing their predecessors and touching the realm of legend.

Popper's words painted a clear and visible road for them.

No one could maintain their composure anymore.

The giants at the main table—Emperor Augustus VII of the human world and King Cain of the orcs—quickly exchanged glances, each seeing the burning flame in the other's eyes and a hint of annoyance at having their secrets revealed to them by the elves.

Although the four elven kings tried their best to maintain a calm facade, the slight tightening of Sun King Alandir's fingers and the faint smile on Night Queen Morvila's lips betrayed the turbulent emotions churning within them.

Sergio the Dwarf King's breathing became heavy, as if he could already hear the hammering sound of the divine artifact being born in the Golden Age.

Archbishop Trosiva of Holy Light closed his eyes and whispered, as if in prayer or weighing the place of the Way of Holy Light in the new era.

Even for those of them who are part of the torch relay, every time they hear it, their blood boils with excitement.

Because they understand it better.

Compared to those who only united at the last minute, these people have been working for the Night's Watch for decades. After this golden age, they will surely ascend to godhood.

This was a promise that Canna had made long ago.

Such excitement is inevitable.

The situation at the outer seating area was completely out of control.

The monarchs of the small countries forgot their fear and trepidation of the previous day, their faces flushed with excitement, and they discussed incoherently with their neighbors the changes that the "golden age" might bring.

Some representatives from resource-poor or technologically backward regions had a gleam of ecstatic joy in their eyes, as if they saw a glimmer of hope for overtaking others on a curve.

Even those monarchs who had spent the previous night unable to sleep due to concerns about the resettlement of civilians felt an unprecedented surge of emotion at this moment.

For that possible "golden rain," for that slim yet real "opportunity to become a god," all sacrifices seem... worthwhile!
"quiet!"

A cool, low shout, like an icy spring, instantly suppressed the boiling clamor.

Alysse had returned to the center of attention at some point, her scarlet pupils calmly sweeping across the entire room.

The gaze wasn't sharp, but it possessed a penetrating power that saw through people's hearts, slightly cooling down the fervor.

She didn't rush to speak, but stood there quietly, as if giving time for the flames of "greed" and "hope" to burn and settle on their own.

The noise in the hall gradually subsided, but the scorching heat in the air did not diminish at all.

Countless gazes were fixed on Areris, filled with eagerness, longing, and a hint of barely perceptible awe.

Some nobles, especially the king who learned of the "killing the chicken to scare the monkey" incident yesterday, couldn't help but grumble inwardly.

'If the promise of this 'golden age' had been laid out earlier, would those fools have dared to jump out and court death yesterday? The alliance would have been established much earlier!'

However, they quickly realized the Night's Watch's intention—this thunderous action and bloody intimidation were precisely the prelude to this moment.

It coldly reveals that the Night's Watch's mercy and cooperation are gifts based on their absolute power and will, not compromises that can be bargained over.

Gratitude is acceptable, but taking advantage of an inch is the only way out. Only destruction will suffice.

Alyris seemed to see through these complex thoughts, and a barely perceptible hint of coldness flashed across her lips.

She tapped the smooth star-patterned alloy tabletop three times with her knuckles.

"Tap, tap, tap."

The sound was crisp and clear, as if striking the heartstrings of everyone.

"It seems that you all have a clear understanding of the meaning represented by the 'Golden Age'."

Alysse's voice was steady and clear, without any emotional fluctuation.

"Now, let's return to the core issue of establishing the alliance. If everyone has no further objections to the fundamental premise of joining the alliance, accepting unified command, and contributing all their strength to protecting the world of Aigera..."

Her gaze slowly swept across the entire arena, lingering briefly on the faces of the leaders of the major powers, including the human emperor, the orc lion king, and the four elven kings, before finally settling back on the center. "...Therefore, the framework agreement of the alliance is established at this moment."

This time, there was no hesitation, no dissent.

The powerful figures at the main table, whether human, orc, elf, or others, all nodded slightly, indicating their agreement.

From the outer seats, a chorus of suppressed excitement and awe rose up in agreement.

The allure of godhood and the iron fist of the Night's Watch together forged the cornerstone of this unprecedented wartime alliance that spans the entire world of the Order of Aegir.

"very good."

Alyris nodded slightly, a hint of barely perceptible satisfaction finally appearing in her eyes.

"The complex details of the alliance's charter, power structure, contribution evaluation system, and wartime resource allocation rules cannot be finalized overnight. Later, the Night's Watch will take the lead in establishing a special 'Alliance Charter Drafting Committee,' inviting core members from various countries and ethnic groups who are proficient in law, strategy, and logistics to participate. This will be one of the core tasks for some time to come."

The kings and representatives from various countries nodded in agreement.

Now that the alliance is a done deal and concerns the future evaluation of "merits," it has become an urgent task to participate in the formulation of rules and strive to gain a more favorable position and voice for one's own country and people within the framework.

“Now that there are no fundamental obstacles to the establishment of the alliance,” Alyris changed the subject, her tone becoming pragmatic and cold again, “then the next step is the key to whether we can hold out until the ‘Golden Age’ arrives—the specific deployment of the doomsday defense strategy.”

Knowing about the golden age, these guys will now put in their best effort.

The holographic projection lit up again, clearly displaying a three-dimensional map of the world of Aegira, with the continent of Taliel and its surrounding seas highlighted.

"The primary task is to build the first and most important forward defense line on the continent of Taliel."

Alyris pointed to the northwest corner of the map, "As Lord Kana indicated, this will be the place where the Void Rifts first and most densely erupt. Our goal is not to engage in a doomed 'final battle' with the Void here."

As she slid her fingertips across the map, a dynamic scene of void creatures gushing forth from the rifts was simulated.

"Our core strategy is to delay and wear down the enemy, buying time for our rear!"

“The defense will not be a fixed, rigid city wall, but a dynamically retreating ‘net’ composed of countless ‘mobile defense nodes’,” Alyris explained. “The Night Watch will deploy specially designed ‘void energy attraction devices’.”

"These devices can generate energy fluctuations at specific frequencies, like lighthouses in the dark, actively attracting void creatures within a certain range to a pre-set 'strangulation zone'."

On the map, blue dots representing the device began to light up scattered across the continent of Taliel and the surrounding seas, with each dot surrounded by a simulated halo of radiation.

"However, the device has a limited range of attraction and will gradually weaken or even fail as it is eroded by void energy."

Alirez acknowledged the limitations of the technology.

"Therefore, the defense line will be composed of these nodes, and the main force will rely on these nodes to carry out defensive operations."

"When the pressure in a certain node area becomes too high or the equipment effectiveness decreases, the troops will carry or activate backup equipment and retreat in an orderly manner to the pre-set 'secondary node' in the rear to form a new defensive line."

"This retreat, layer by layer, is like... a net that keeps shrinking backward, yet remains resilient."

She made a contracting gesture with both hands.

"The strategic significance of doing this is to forcibly restrain and guide the disorderly spread of void creatures in a 'surface' manner into a 'line' manner that we have pre-set."

"Forcibly reduce their destructive range from 'instantly engulfing most of the world' to 'slow erosion following the speed of the void aggregate's outer wrapping!"

Areris's gaze sharpened considerably.

"This gap means we can protect several times, even dozens of times, more land, resources, and people!"

"This means that after the apocalypse recedes, the speed of our civilization's revival will be drastically different! It means that in the 'Golden Age,' we will have a more solid foundation and more abundant vitality!"

This explanation was clear and powerful, making everyone understand the immense value of this seemingly doomed frontline defense—it was securing "quality of life" and "future foundation" for the entire world.

"But this scale..."

Emperor Augustus VII couldn't help but speak, his brow furrowed, pointing to the vast land and ocean that needed to be covered on the map.

"The northernmost part of the continent of Taliel is already a frigid, icy wasteland, and then there are the ocean passages that need to be defended..."

"The sheer number of troops required, the ships built, the logistical support... just thinking about it is suffocating! This is far beyond the capabilities of one or two empires, and even..."

He glanced at the orc lion king and the four elven kings, "...Even if we combine our main forces, it's far from enough!"

"Your Majesty is absolutely right."

Alysse did not deny it.

"This is precisely the significance of the alliance. This will be the largest and most complex joint military operation in the history of the Aegira world."

"It requires all member states to contribute their most elite troops, best commanders, and most valuable war resources without reservation!"

She looked at King Kane and the Emperor: "The Imperial and Orcish heavy infantry will be the steel backbone of the land node defenses."

His gaze shifted to the four elven kings: "The elves' ranged attack power, nature magic, and druidic spells are irreplaceable in slowing, weakening, and purifying the void's corruption."

Then his gaze swept over the representatives of the Commercial City-State Alliance and the Lord of the Golden Sail City-State.

"The Alliance's naval power, especially its large, high-speed, and heavily armed warships, is key to sealing off the ocean rifts and preventing Void creatures from outflanking our land defenses from the sea. The shipbuilding program must begin immediately, at any cost!"

Finally, her gaze returned to the entire room.

"As for small and medium-sized kingdoms and tribes, your unique troop types, troops familiar with specific environments, and even organized groups of adventurers will all be integrated into the defense systems of various nodes to play a unique role."

"The Night Watch will provide unified logistical support, intelligence support, rapid teleportation channels, and... most importantly, the deployment and maintenance technology of the 'attraction device'."

Alyris paused for a moment, her voice carrying an undeniable determination.

"Although our final stronghold is in Lebia, under the divine glory of the City of the Ring, this does not mean that we should give up the other continents in advance."

"By delaying the Tarril defenses, we will establish secondary defense nodes and evacuation centers in key areas of other continents, especially densely populated and resource-rich areas, and rely on local forces to hold out for as long as possible."

"The longer we can hold out, the more people we can save and the more resources we can preserve! Until... when things become unbearable, we can then use the teleportation network established by the Night Watch to evacuate to the continent of Leviathan in an orderly manner."

"For Aigela! For the Golden Age!"

Sergio, the dwarf king, slammed his fist on the table and roared, his eyes gleaming with the fervent zeal typical of dwarves when facing formidable challenges.

"For Aigella!"

"For the future!"

A chorus of agreement rose and fell; this time, there was less hesitation and more resolute determination, spurred by grand goals and enormous profits.

Seeing everyone's reactions, Areris knew that the core ideas of the defensive strategy had been accepted. (End of Chapter)