Algor's Wisdom

Imperial Palace, Viltrumite Empire.

Algor sat in a chair carved from pure white jade, silently reviewing the frontline reports in his hands.

He set the reports aside on the table, narrowed his eyes at the galactic map hanging on the wall, and rhythmically tapped the armrest with his fingertips.

Thragg glanced sideways in confusion, unsure what the Emperor had seen in the reports or why he was deep in thought.

After a long while, Emperor Algor finally spoke:

"The results at the front are far from ideal."

"I did not expect the Anti-Vitrum Alliance to act so quickly."

"In less than a day, nearly all our warriors have come under their encirclement."

"And those unruly rabble across the universe—when our warriors conquered their civilizations, not only did they refuse to surrender, they actually dared to resist stubbornly."

Anger appeared on Algor's face as he handed the frontline reports on the table to Thragg.

Thragg received them respectfully, rapidly flipping through the pages with his fingertips. Before long, he understood the entire situation.

After closing the report on the frontline results, even Thragg, who had weathered countless storms, could not help frowning.

What was going on?

In less than a day, several million Viltrumite Empire warriors had died on the front lines.

But considering that the Anti-Vitrum Alliance had committed hundreds of millions of troops to encircle them, along with the fierce resistance from those conquered civilizations—

the number suddenly seemed reasonable again.

Algor snorted coldly and turned to look at the pensive Thragg.

"Commander Thragg, how do you believe the Empire should respond next?"

Thragg placed the frontline reports back on the table, lowered his gaze, and carefully considered a response.

He raised his eyes and bowed slightly.

"Your Majesty, I believe reinforcing the number of frontline warriors is our highest priority."

"We must stabilize the current situation. If the front collapses, the Empire's warriors will be attacked from both sides."

"At that point, the civilizations occupied by the Empire will face counterinvasions from the Anti-Vitrum Alliance."

Hearing this, Algor's tapping fingers came to a stop.

What did one hundred million Viltrumite Warriors represent?

They were a tidal wave capable of sweeping across several star systems within a month.

Because the Anti-Vitrum Alliance had entered the fray, several million warriors had died on the first day, and they already needed reinforcements?

He stared at Thragg, a trace of displeasure flashing through his eyes.

"More reinforcements? The Empire has deployed one hundred million warriors. Could the front truly collapse?"

"Commander Thragg, are you saying the Empire's warriors are incapable of dealing with that rabble?"

Thragg bowed slightly, his tone respectful yet firm.

"Your Majesty, the Anti-Vitrum Alliance's forces far exceed our expectations."

"They are a coalition formed from countless planetary civilizations, with tens of billions of troops—several times our own numbers."

"Though the Empire's warriors are valiant, we are already at a numerical disadvantage. Without timely reinforcements, I fear..."

Algor waved a hand, cutting him off. The fury in his eyes could not be concealed.

"Fear what?! Commander Thragg, do not build up others while diminishing our own."

"Every warrior of the Empire can fight a hundred enemies alone. They are merely several hundred billion ants struggling in vain!"

Thragg stared at Emperor Algor in astonishment. What did His Majesty mean by that?

It was true that an Empire warrior could fight a hundred enemies alone. In fact, even fighting a hundred million alone was not a problem.

But that depended on who the enemy was! Those Alien Warriors might not be able to kill a Viltrumite Warrior in a one-on-one fight.

But if they used ten lives to trade for one warrior's life, twenty of them could bury even an elite warrior!

You could regard them as hundreds of billions of ants, but you could not truly deal with them the way you dealt with ants.

Swallowing the bitterness in his heart, Thragg continued his remonstrance despite himself.

"Your Majesty, even ants can bite an elephant to death."

"Although the front can still hold for some time, once the Anti-Vitrum Alliance's reinforcements arrive, it will inevitably collapse."

If they did not send reinforcements, did that mean the Anti-Vitrum Alliance would not either?

Even the enemy's first wave of troops had already caused them no small amount of suffering. Once the second wave of reinforcements arrived—

it was too dreadful to imagine.

Algor suddenly smashed the armrest with one blow and roared:

"Enough!"

"Are you questioning my decision?"

Seeing the Emperor's fury, Thragg immediately dropped to one knee, the words rushing from his mouth.

"I would not dare. I merely need to remind Your Majesty that if the Anti-Vitrum Alliance sends more—"

Before he could finish, Algor interrupted him again.

"Commander Thragg, I know you act for the Empire's sake, but I have made my own decision."

"I am tired. Leave."

Still kneeling on one knee, Thragg looked up at Algor in disbelief, his eyes blank.

When he saw the impatience on the other man's face, he finally opened his mouth but did not try to persuade him further. He merely spoke three final words.

"Your servant withdraws."

Thragg left the Emperor's chambers and walked down the corridor guarded on both sides by sentries.

His lonely figure moved step by step toward the gates of the Imperial Palace.

He did not understand why the Emperor was so stubbornly attached to his own opinion.

When he had first joined the ranks as an adult, the words he heard most often were that Emperor Algor possessed infinite wisdom.

The Emperor had taught them how to train themselves, display their strength, enslave other planets to develop the Empire, and listen to his subordinates' opinions in the Supreme Council.

Thragg walked out through the palace gates and stood atop the towering steps of the Imperial Palace, looking down at the Empire's capital and the Viltrumites flying through the sky.

"Perhaps the Emperor is right."

Muttering words only he could hear, Thragg raised both arms above his head and flew into the sky.

Meanwhile, on the barren planet, Sparta's battle with the Alien Warriors officially entered its final stage.

At this point, only two Alien Warriors remained alive.

Sparta looked like a blood-soaked man who had crawled out of a pool of blood, his entire body covered in crimson.

He had at least a dozen wounds across his body. Some had already scabbed over, while others still bled without pause. He looked utterly miserable.

An Alien Warrior stood behind Sparta, both arms tightly clamped around his neck.

"You butchers should have died long ago!"

"You killed my family, killed my people, and now even my companions have died at your hands!"

Sparta gritted his teeth and did not respond. Instead, he raised an arm and drove an elbow backward.

"Cough! Cough!"

The Alien Warrior's ribs shattered, caving in a deep hollow.

Yet he still clamped tightly around Sparta's neck, refusing to let go no matter what.

"I can handle all of you! Can you handle me?!"

Sensing that his opponent intended to die with him, Sparta used his ability to fly sharply backward.

The last Alien Warrior chased after them with all his strength, but he could not catch up no matter what.

Sparta's flight path was completely unpredictable, veering left one moment and right the next.

Wherever there were mountains, he slammed into them, using the Alien Warrior behind him as a cushion as they crashed through several rocky peaks.