Lin Ye stood at the network's core node, sensing the power gathering there. The feeling defied words, as though the entire universe had opened its heart to him. Countless consciousnesses flickered in his perception, each bearing its own unique light. Some shone brightly, belonging to powerful beings; others glimmered faintly, belonging to tiny lives. Yet strong or weak, they were equally important, for every will was an indispensable part of this resonance.
Ereyan led the Eternal Empire's reformists into the operation. Those pureblood beings who had once taken pride in their lineage now stood shoulder to shoulder with the lesser beings they had discriminated against for countless ages. Historical hatred was set aside for the moment, because a more important enemy awaited them. Ereyan said this was a step toward the empire's true rebirth. Only through such a trial could the divisions of the past truly be healed.
The pope of the Annihilation Church personally helped coordinate the effort. Their incorporeal form became a powerful relay, helping beings unfamiliar with cross-dimensional connections join the whole. The pope said this was the true meaning of annihilation: the old perished and the new was born, finding rebirth in destruction. The Lord of Order represented a lifeless order, while they were creating a living order, one capable of growth and evolution.
Even some former enemies joined in. Opponents of the Eternal Empire who had survived the Great Purge, civilizations that had broken away from the Rule Guardians Alliance, and factions that had harbored doubts about the network all chose to stand on the right side at this critical moment. Not because they fully agreed with the network's ideals, but because they knew that if the Lord of Order won, no one would meet a good end.
Gathering their wills took time. Every new