All around them was deathly silence.
Star Track panted as she stared at her father, mere inches away, and said:
"What did you say?!"
The aged figure drew a deep breath, as though the weight that had burdened his heart for thousands of years had finally been lifted. His lips moved, and he said:
"Strength is the original sin, and the strength of our race as a whole is an even greater catastrophe for us. We are long-lived beings, which means our knowledge and power will gradually surpass those of most races as time passes. But that is devastating, because when the butcher's blade falls, our entire race will be cut down."
"This was the only way I could weaken our collective strength as much as possible, in the hope that we could survive the Great Purge."
Star Track's eyes trembled.
The aged figure raised his head and said:
"If it was inevitable, then at least we must not lose our nation and our entire race. Even if only a tenth, a hundredth of our seeds remained, we would still have a chance to rise again."
"Instead of vanishing from history altogether."
"You're making excuses!"
Star Track was almost hysterical, her gaze all but twisted by hatred. She struggled desperately to break free of her restraints, frantically trying to kill him.
What kind of joke was this?!
Weakening their entire race! Surviving the Great Purge!
To her, these were nothing but excuses he had concocted to escape blame!
He was a madman!
A traitor!
The aged figure's lips moved, and he said:
"I won't deny it, nor do I expect your forgiveness, because this was a cruel decision from the start. The moment I took that step, I knew I would forever be nailed to the pillar of shame in