Meanwhile.
In another region of the universe.
An enormous fortress assembled from countless meteorites floated in the pitch-black void.
Its exterior was rough, covered in mechanical arms and the glowing spots of energy shields. From a distance, it resembled an asteroid wrapped in metal vines.
Ships of every description flitted back and forth around it like swarms of locusts.
Inside the fortress, there were none of the Star Soul Hall's imposing black steles, nor any of the Five Elements Palace's ancient, elegant palaces.
There were only crisscrossing corridors and the ceaseless buzzing of communications.
This was the Cosmic Hunter Guild's headquarters in Sector 1008.
It was also the largest gathering place for hunters within several million light-years.
In a circular conference chamber in the deepest part of the fortress, more than a dozen beings of different colors and forms sat around a ring-shaped table.
There were humans, members of the Scale Armor Race, gelatinous life-forms, and even a humanoid formed from a cloud of translucent light.
Bounty notices and star charts covered the walls, proclaiming this place's ancient and sacred standing.
A burly humanoid covered in dark blue-green scales spoke first, his voice rough and hoarse. "The information about the Azure Lord Secret Realm has been confirmed.
It is on Crimson Storm Star, at the edge of the Milky Way's Orion Arm, where the Azure Lord finally fell.
His remains and complete legacy are very likely still inside his secret realm."
Across the table, a gaunt human elder raised his eyelids and spoke slowly. "The Five Elements Palace and the Star Soul Hall have already made their moves. If we arrive late, there won't even be scraps left for us."
"The Star Soul Hall sent a World God from the Star-Killing Hall. The Five Elements Palace sent one World God