Dreamer.
Sanctuary of the Savior.
A massive star map was projected in midair, clusters upon clusters of brilliant stars glittering across it in breathtaking splendor.
Ron looked up. The map showed not only the familiar river of stars, but many more unfamiliar regions.
It was not a map of the Galaxy, but a map of the observable universe. It contained at least two hundred thousand star systems comparable to the Milky Way.
Yet when the dazzling map was enlarged, an incongruous shadow appeared in the regions relatively close to the Galaxy.
Even more unsettling, the tentacle-like shadows extending from it were reaching toward the Galaxy.
"So it has come after all—"
Ron frowned tightly and turned to ask Secretary General Tako, who stood respectfully beside him, "Has the intelligence been verified? It isn't some kind of cosmic storm, or the effects of supernova particles?"
No matter what, intelligence concerning the Empire's core plans and its very survival had to be verified repeatedly, lest he and the Royal Court make the wrong judgment.
"Your Majesty, the Exploration Society ran tens of thousands of repeated calculations. Every result pointed to the same answer.
"That was not a natural phenomenon, but an all-out invasion.
"Something had devoured the heat of an entire star system. It extinguished every star, and even the light coming in from outside was swallowed by it.
"That was why the entire star system had fallen into darkness—"
Tako's voice was somewhat hoarse. By the end, he could not stop himself from shuddering.
As Secretary General, he knew what that thing was: the unimaginably terrifying enemy known as the Great Devourer!
It had already stretched its claws toward the Galaxy. All life would inevitably face this cosmic Scourge, perhaps even the danger of extinction.
Tako's words swept through the hall