Global Crossing: Empire of Stars

But as soon as the decision over who would control the Galactic Core Area was made, similar talk vanished overnight. People spoke of the Dragon Soul with awe and longing.

Especially after the Dragon Flame Alliance made its announcement: civilizations from the other three galactic arms could join as well. It immediately caused a sensation across the Milky Way Galaxy.

The low- and mid-level Interstellar Civilizations that had originally leaned toward becoming vassals of nearby high-level civilizations for protection now flocked to the Dragon Flame Alliance. Small military alliances scattered across the various star regions had barely begun to expand when the Alliance poached their members, weakening them or even absorbing them wholesale into its territory.

And so, while Lin Zhichen was busy testing the Icarus Mech, the Alliance never stopped expanding.

Great Kun-class Planet Transport Ships carried large numbers of modified Sky Pillar Fortresses and Star Gates directly to the new member states. Once engineers assembled and activated the Star Gates, streams of Imperial engineers arrived in teams, setting up numerous defense systems throughout space until the entire star system—

and even the entire region of space occupied by the civilization—had been fortified.

After joining the Alliance, these civilizations became strategic footholds in the Imperial Military's territory. With the Star Gates linking them, the Alliance Fleet could arrive directly in star regions tens of thousands of light-years away to carry out missions.

Viewed across the Milky Way Galaxy, the star regions that lit up one by one marked the Empire's expansion. With the convenience of Star Gate transport, the Imperial Fleet's mobility reached an entirely new peak.

"About 30% of the Natural Person civilizations in the Milky Way Galaxy have submitted applications to join the Dragon Flame Alliance. Another 40% or so are still hesitating. Of the remaining 30%,