Chapter 540: The Annual Gozonian Interstellar Summit.
The Interstellar Citadel
Imperium Astra
Prime World Gozon
June 15th
Year 1054 of 50th General Calendar
The Annual Gozonian Interstellar Summit.
It was a prestigious event where Generals and Soldiers of exceptional merit from Gozon’s Battlefront Worlds across the Interstellar Stage gathered to present their yearly accomplishments to the planet’s rulers.
Depending on the significance of these achievements, merits and awards were distributed, with the most distinguished accomplishments earning special recognition. Generals could make requests for additional troops, and resources, or even draw from the planetary defence budget.
Outstanding Achievements were also Specially rewarded by the Planet’s Rulers, with even things like Pseudo-Authorities bestowed by Demon Kings being up for grabs.
The summit was a blend of strategy and celebration—a pivotal occasion where the power dynamics of the Interstellar Empire’s armies were recalibrated and the future course of its military might was shaped.
◇ ◇ ◇
In one of the waiting rooms where the Battlefront World Representatives stayed before their turn to report to the Demon Kings, two teenage boys were having a discussion the Gozonians in the room considered rather strange.
"The Demon Kings aren’t named after the ’Lesser Key of Solomon’, are they?"
"I thought they were when I heard they’re 72 in number, but as far as I know, there aren’t any McEndas or Valrens in the Lesser Key so, they aren’t."
Arthur responded to Evan as he moved his chess piece and for a moment, Evan suspected that Arthur was using his future sight to predict his next moves.
"Time manipulators should never be allowed to play chess."
"Pfft...I’m not cheating."
In the room with them were Alvey, McEnda, Barron, Sigesi and four other High-Rank demon Lieutenant General/Rear Admiral aides of the first 3.
Each Battlefront World Army was limited to ten representatives, so two people had lost their chance to go since Evan and Arthur were coming along.
Not like the two boys cared, though. Besides, Arthur’s achievements were higher than those two so they couldn’t say anything in protest.
Things were handled alphabetically, so worlds that started with A were first.
Time was accelerated within the Hall which was being used for the summit, the ’Hall of Stars’. This way, the Demon Kings were able to handle every world within a 5 letter span each day.
For Day One, Worlds A-E were up, and Arthur liked that Aramis was an ’A’ planet. It meant he could get this over with and go back to exploring Imperium Astra the next day.
He was totally treating this like a vacation trip.
"So, the reports are first made to the Demon Kings and all the Demon Noble Family heads individually. Then everyone is called back at the end so the merits and awards would be given out."
When McEnda explained this, Evan couldn’t help but feel for the Demon Kings who had to sit through numerous presentations daily.
But their titles weren’t for free, they had to do work and besides, Deity Realm existences had a lot of stamina so they’d be fine...besides the mental drain from dealing with any silly presentations.
Just then, they felt a powerful aura explode past the energy-sealing walls of the Hall, and very quickly, they discovered that someone had pissed off a Demon King.
"We’re not next, right?"
Barron asked this just to be on the safe side, and luckily, another group was before them. That was from a world called ’Aralung’ and they were ’Aramis’. Thanks to the alphabetical order, the Aralung group was first.
They continued their leisurely wait, and some odd minutes later, a chamberlain knocked on the door and told them to get ready.
Alvey picked up his reports, taking a deep breath as he thought of the potential results of this day.
If things went well, he was sure to gain a Noble Rank of his own, and he hoped it’d be one higher than his father’s ’Lower Fourth’ so he could rub it in the old man’s face.
"You nervous? No need to be. You’d be fine."
McEnda patted his shoulder and reassured him, but a moment later, his expression changed as he recalled something.
"Well, they didn’t pay full attention before so they didn’t notice it, but they’d surely figure out we’d been stalling on Gledea this time.
If my guess is correct, they’d probably give us an ultimatum."
"There would be no problems. I’ve accumulated all the achievements I needed."
The two discussed a plan they had made years ago when they first led the incursion into Gledea; a plan which allowed Alvey more time to gather more merits.
[Aramis Prime Representatives.]
That mechanical voice rang out in the room and the doors opened. They stepped out and into the hallway, passing by the group who had just finished their presentation before reaching the majestic double doors.
The doors opened automatically and they stepped into the heart of the Interstellar Citadel, the ’Hall of Stars’.
Its high ceilings mirrored the night sky, with a vast, pillarless space capable of holding thousands.
Illusory star maps decorated the ceilings, showing Gozon at the centre with other ’nearby’ celestial bodies. Panning out, the full map could be seen as one of Gozon’s Interstellar Empire, showing as many of their colonies as possible.
The eyes of the thousands of Demon Noble family heads turned in their direction, heavy gazes boring into the ten of them with intensity.
Further along and nearing the circular hall’s other end sat the Race Lords—the Demon Lords.
Finally, at the opposite end of the doors was a collection of 72 Thrones haphazardly arranged on an inclined elevated platform.
In the centre, were two thrones kept side by side, reserved for the two ’Supremes’ of this generation of ’Demon Kings’.
The closer a person’s seat was to this dais, the higher their rank. So, it was in the order of Family heads, then Junior and Senior Demon Lords and finally, the rulers of the Interstellar Hegemon they were on.
Once Arthur got within a certain range, the Universe’s Devour Class system activated and began filtering out the power in the gazes he felt, converting the powerful energy of the Demon Deities into lines of translucent text that appeared in his field of vision.
[The ’Demon King of Destruction’ observes you with keen interest]
[The ’Demon Queen of Gravitas’ looks at you with surprise]
[The ’Demon King of Frost’ casts his gaze in your direction]
[The ’Demon King of Time’ watches you intently]
[The ’Demon Queen of Flames’ turns her gaze upon you]
[The ’Demon King of Storms’ directs his gaze towards you]
[...]
Many more appeared but Arthur minimized them all and raised his gaze to survey the area. He looked around casually, unaffected by the overpowering presences of the Deities—this was something he’d long since grown used to since he was a baby.
His eyes moved up and he studied the map on the ceiling, trying to find Aramis’ position on it but failed since there were far too many planets.
Arthur’s actions had already garnered a lot of attention to him, adding to what he gained because no one present could sense his existence realm.
"We Greet the Rulers of Gozon."
Alvey spoke as the Main Representative and all the others took one knee down after him. It was then that Arthur finally turned his gaze to properly look at the Demon Kings.
72 High Tier Deities, all in the Superior Stage.
Their stages were the same, however, Arthur’s instincts told him that their strengths were very far off.
The two seated in the centre of the dais in particular; were unmistakably the most powerful beings on this planet
On the right was a salt-and-pepper-haired man with a commanding presence. His facial features were chiselled, adorned with a neatly trimmed beard and dark blue eyes.
He wore an official mess dress with the first few buttons open, and one look was all it took for Arthur to recognize him.
’Father and son really do look alike...’
[The ’Demon King of Corrosion’ studies you with a curious glance]
Jack McEnda II, the man Arthur had spoken to with through the body of Aramis’ Five-Star General, cast a curious look in his direction. It was clear that he couldn’t see through the boy’s concealment artifact, a fact that seemed to intrigue him.
Arthur shifted his attention to the other ’Supreme King’, the one he’d heard countless stories about.
This man appeared strikingly young, his features so handsome that even Vampires and Incubi—famed for their otherworldly beauty—would feel a pang of envy. His clear blue eyes, like crystalline pools of untouched water, drew one in with an uncanny depth.
But in the elongated black slits of his pupils, there lurked something predatory, a hint of the danger that lay beneath the surface.
Dressed in a three-piece suit and tie, he propped his chin on his palm, exuding an aura of casual dominance.
Looking at him, Arthur could instantly tell that this guy was the kind who could go SHIFT + DELETE on people’s existences. Like him, this man could control Nothingness.
[The ’Demon King of the Void’ gazes at you with light surprise]
Clearly, the other party had recognized the same about Arthur despite the concealment ring he wore. He was the only person who could see through the concealment, and Arthur wasn’t surprised; he’d sensed it the moment he entered the Hall.
This man—Demon King Westley—was a Complete Cosmic Being.
Evan who was beside Arthur had his eyes wide for reasons unknown to all except him. Maybe there was something about these Demon Kings that he’d witnessed in the future.
Suddenly, Demon King Westley’s eyes widened in realization, and he alternated his gaze between Arthur and Evan repeatedly.
This prompted the two boys to turn to each other, and the realisation of why Westley had reacted that way hit them like a freight train.
In a moment of shared understanding, they simultaneously raised their hands and pointed at each other—Arthur at Evan and Westley, Westley at Arthur and Evan, and Evan at Arthur and Westley—before voicing the same two-word question.
"""YOU TOO?!"""
