"Is this a threat?" Han Xiao was surprised; this was too direct.
"No, I'm just making you understand your situation," Sisko said calmly, but firmly.
As fellow Beyond Grade A powerhouses wielding immense power, the intricacies of negotiations between civilizations would only be laughable if spoken of. Beyond Grade A are privileged individuals in the Galaxy, having long since stepped outside the rules. Therefore, Sisko knew that nonsense was useless; directly stating the stakes and seizing upon the other party's concerns was far more effective than spouting a bunch of metaphors and hints.
Sisko doesn't know much about Black Star's situation. He only knows that the Tyrant and Black Star are enemies, so no matter which side he joins, he can break the balance.
He was betting that Black Star, as a newly promoted Beyond Grade A, would choose to play it safe. Advancing to Beyond Grade A was the time to accumulate power and divide the interests of the star field. At this critical juncture, facing the alliance of two veteran Beyond Grade A- levels, he felt that Black Star would most likely compromise.
The Star Pupil Protoss genes have almost reached their limit of optimization, and the function of the Evolution Cube is no longer of much use to them. What Sisko needs is not to continue using the Evolution Cube, but the value of the Evolution Cube itself—to control it and exchange it for the support of the Arcane Church.
In fact, in recent decades, the Arcane Church has repeatedly offered generous terms in exchange for the Evolution Cube. In their most recent offer, they proposed to support the Star Pupil Protoss as the Arcane Church's designated representative in the Shattered Star Ring, transforming it into a true star cluster-level civilization, which has already tempted Sisko.
However, the bargaining chip they relied on was snatched away.
Therefore, whether the cost block is portable or not is not important. Han Xiao's offer is not attractive to him. He doesn't need to borrow it; what he wants is the Evolution Cube itself.
In any case, the Evolution Cube must be returned to his hands, otherwise he will lose the support of the Arcane Church. Without this premise, no amount of exchange of benefits will work, and there is no room for compromise!
After a moment's thought, Han Xiao understood Sisko's reliance and bottom line. The other party's tough stance was giving him a headache.
This young man refuses to cooperate in a win-win manner; he's only focused on getting back the Evolution Cube, and he can't do anything about Sisko himself.
Threatening the opposing race does more harm than good. Galaxy-level civilizations are protected by the Civilization Treaty, while armed forces are not. This is a difference in the nature of their power. In other words, it's okay for others to attack them, but it's illegal for them to attack others. That's how miserable interstellar mercenaries are—they have no feelings and no human rights.
Sisko's attachment to his race is a well-known weakness. However, if he were to back down every time someone threatened him with the race, the Star Pupil Protoss would never have reached where they are today. It could be said that Sisko was raised to be intimidated, which is why he is so unyielding. Unless Han Xiao is determined to abandon the Black Star Army and become a cosmic-level wanted criminal like the Sorokin, threatening the Star Pupil Protoss is obviously just bluffing. Han Xiao believes that Sisko is certainly aware of this.
'But he knew this, yet he didn't threaten me with the Black Star Army, which shows he still had some reservations and didn't want to push me too far.' Han Xiao's heart stirred.
The main point of contention was the Evolution Cube, which both sides were wary of. To avoid mutual destruction, neither side mentioned their respective factions.
However, Han Xiao was unwilling to simply return the Evolution Cube to Sisko. For most civilizations, the Evolution Cube represented an unprecedented opportunity for development, and no civilization could refuse such an opportunity. If he were to control the Evolution Cube, it would create a massive conglomerate of interests, and the Black Star Army's influence would increase hundreds or even thousands of times.
Even if I were to concede that I were to use my Beyond Grade A status to collaborate with the Crimson Dynasty and the Book of Evolution Cube, I could still gain the support of a cosmic-level civilization. The Black Star Army could also enjoy the same benefits that the Star Pupil Protoss received from the Arcane Church, and I could even join the early exploration and development team of the Shattered World, placing my bets on future versions in advance.
At the same time, the Evolution Cube can also attract countless Calamity Grade, and it might even be possible to use it to win over other Beyond Grade A.
He is not a racist like Sisko, who would hoard good things and only use them within his own ethnic group.
There is only one Evolution Cube, and the benefits are enormous. It was fine if we didn't have the chance before, but now that we have the opportunity and the strength to protect such a treasure, it would be too unwise to give it up easily.
When it's time to fight, Han Xiao will not back down.
Keeping the cube offers the greatest benefit, though it comes with some risk. However, given his own survivability and Aurora's potion, even if the Tyrant and Sisko join forces, they might not be able to kill him. In terms of power, he is not afraid of the risk, as the Evolution Cube's ability to gain favor is top-notch. On the other hand, giving it back to Sisko is risk-free, but it means giving up the biggest piece of the pie, handing over a promising future to someone else, and only being able to accept the leftovers.
This is Choice between one tree and an entire forest!
With this in mind, Han Xiao stopped probing and asked in a deep voice:
"Not even a sliver of room for maneuver?"
Sisko said calmly, "For a civilization to develop, it inevitably has to compete—compete for resources, compete for the future... From ancient times to the present, whether advanced or backward, no one can escape this rule. If you don't compete and fight, you will eventually be eliminated. I'm sure you've heard the saying that circulates in the universe: a civilization without ambition has no future."
He wouldn't say things like, "The Evolution Cube is mine, you should return it to me." As two individuals at the peak of individual power, reasoning is useless. In essence, the Evolution Cube is ownerless. Sisko took it for himself through power, but it was only over time that other forces accepted it as his.
If it were a treasure crafted solely by the Star Pupil Protoss, Han Xiao might be willing to return it. However, this item did not originally belong to Sisko. Even if the other party had a noble cause for their own race, the universe is not owned by your Star Pupil Protoss. Resources are earned through struggle, so why should everyone else give way to you? Your Star Pupil Protoss is an intelligent civilization, but so are other races.
Sisko, who monopolized the Evolution Cube and was dedicated to transforming his race, was a hero of his race. But in the eyes of other civilizations, wasn't he also a selfish individual? One's hero is another's enemy. Value judgments are based on perspective, especially in the complex environment of the Galaxy, where there is no simple right or wrong. The development of civilization is inherently a process of going against the current.
In Han Xiao's view, the Star Pupil Protoss had already enjoyed the benefits of the Evolution Cube. Even without the cube, the Star Pupil Protoss would still be a powerful race. Sisko was just clinging to this benefit and unwilling to let go, dissatisfied with the status quo, and wanting to elevate the civilization to a higher level.
"A civilization without ambition has no future, that's true. As the leader of your civilization, you do indeed bear the responsibility for its future, but..." Han Xiao sighed, "I don't intend to pay the price for your ambition."
"Have you thought it through?" Sisko paused, his tone becoming even more serious.
"There's only one Evolution Cube, and neither of us wants to give it up. If the conflict is irreconcilable, then there's nothing to talk about."
Han Xiao shook his head. He had never been a good person who would return lost money. After weighing the pros and cons, he had already made his decision.
Okay, I hope you won't regret your choice today!
Sisko suddenly attacked, unleashing thousands of shockwave-like telekinetic attacks that left distorted trails in the air as they struck the mechanical legion behind them, piercing through their formation.
Bang bang bang!
Thousands of fireworks exploded amidst the mechanical legion, sending shattered parts flying everywhere. Nearly 100,000 mechanical soldiers suffered severe damage, their mechs shattered, and many were rendered unusable.
Tsk, as expected, mechanical soldiers created during the Calamity Grade, even with Mechanical Force enhancements, are still too fragile against Beyond Grade A enemies...
"Spread out!"
Han Xiao gave the order to the combat AI Sparta in his mind. Then, the mechanical arm Nano Transformation into a spiral drill wrapped in Psionic Energy and stabbed towards Sisko, who was right next to him.
Sisko Quick Eyes and Nimble Hands, clasping his hands together to grip the drill bit.
Sizzle sizzle--
The drill bit spun rapidly in Sisko's hands, his palms covered with a psychic shield, rubbing wildly against the drill bit, sparks flying out in bursts of yellow and blue light, his eyes flashing brightly.
Han Xiao felt a sharp pain in his head as he was struck by another mental attack. Before he could react, Sisko's entire body exploded with a hazy white light, and ripples of psychic energy spread rapidly, like an invisible wall pushing against him, sending Han Xiao flying thousands of meters away.
Immediately afterwards, Sisko clenched his four arms tightly, and with a thunderous boom, a powerful and abundant energy surged into the sky!
Han Xiao steadied himself and looked closely, only to see that Sisko's appearance had changed drastically.
Sisko's body swelled up, the two straight, jade-like horns on his forehead lengthened, and his fine, white-hair-like tentacles merged into one huge white tentacle, like a tail growing on his head, swaying back and forth. Its texture seemed extremely tough, and the three pairs of bony wings on his back, resembling jet tubes, opened to their maximum extent, like six segmented limbs.
Seven eyes lit up with a dazzling white light, the deep purple patterns on his skin all lit up, radiating abundant energy, sharp bone blades grew from the bone armor at his joints, and white, cloud-like Nen energy was continuously released from his body, swirling around him.
Sisko is getting serious; this is his true fighting form.
Han Xiao's eyes narrowed. Not everyone was willing to cooperate with him. Sisko refused to use underhanded tactics and hid his backside, so in the end, he could only settle things with his fists.
Fist is always the most brutal and direct way to resolve conflicts.
If verbal communication fails, then the only option is to persuade with reason (material).
"He turns on you like that, damn it, he's got guts... But I'm not backing down either, who's afraid of who!"
Boom!!
Han Xiao held back, casting numerous buffs on himself and unleashing all his Mechanical Force.
whoosh whoosh--
The mechanical legion pressed forward, unleashing a barrage of fire at Sisko, their devastating Psionic Energy particle cannon attacks like a raging storm.
Compared to the hasty sparring just now, this is the real battle!
This was also the first battle I had ever experienced at the Beyond Grade A!