Chapter 31: Nova

"So there's a problem with the Astral Dimension?"

-Yes, Master. The Astral Dimension, also used for Warp, served as a Dimensional Wormhole, and the signals and data from the Integrated Dimensional Community also flowed through and connected to the Astral Dimension.

It could not be marked with clear distances and coordinates like a third dimensional plane and this place, called the Unknown Dimension, was only partially used by the Galactic Empire for Warp.

Aria's gentle voice continued.

-It seems that during the interference with the Item Transfer System by the community users, unfortunately, there was a clash with the server being tested by Minister Makia and Vice Minister Calen. "So the problem has erupted because it’s connected near the 'Barrier'?"

-Yes. That is correct.

"Barrier..."

It referred to the boundary between the outer space that Karlstein had not yet conquered and the currently explored universe. To be honest, it was not completely impossible to colonize.

It was easy to colonize planets with terraforming and relocation.

However, if crossing the boundary called the Barrier, cosmic lifeforms called Kaiju sporadically appeared.

Endlessly evolving and showing infinite hostility towards humanity, there was no power that could withstand the fierce attacks of such Kaiju indefinitely.

The inside of the massive curtain of Astral Attributes called the Barrier was different from the outside.

Thus, the Barrier was the most crucial element for the survival of humanity and the Empire;if there was a problem with it, it was no ordinary matter. Of course, thanks to Aria’s quick actions, it was merely a temporary problem and it was enough to deal with a few Kaiju that popped up near the troubled Barrier.

"But are there those capable of messing with the passage we built?"

-Several circumstances coincided ‘coincidentally’. What would you like to do?

"What else? Of course we have to take care of the Barrier first. Then, cut the root of the problem. Open the Gate."

-Preparing to operate the Warp Gate.

Coo-goo-gung-

Karlstein moved with a chilling expression to somewhere in the Imperial Palace.

"You’re coming too?"

"Of course."

"You lending a hand would be of help."

Behind his back, unseen by Karlstein, Maxien faintly smiled.

The conversation ended there.

Upon arriving at the hangar, Karlstein boarded the 2,000-ton Coreship. A small battleship, 100 meters in size, began to rise into the air, emitting blue light from the launch bay.

The Coreship did not need separate operators or space navigators. It was the flagship where only Karlstein and his close aides resided, solely operated by Aria.

Wooooong-

As he took his seat, mechanical arms sprouted from the floor and ceiling, securing suit parts to his entire body.

Pshueeek- Click- Click. Joints connected and hydraulics escaped, thus beginning to cover his entire body.

Upon donning the 7-Star Exclusive Enhancement Suit 'Azenta,' it resonated with his body and emitted tremendous energy. It was a full-body armor suit specially designed for using Ether Weapons among his Exclusive Suits.

Wooooong

There was a flash of red light.

How to put it? It was as if he had embraced a planet.

The Coreship, risen from the Imperial Palace on planet ‘Terra’, the capital of the Galactic Empire, ascended vertically and entered a massive Imperial Warship anchored high in the sky.

The 12 pillars of light thickened and began to dance more dazzlingly.

***

-Seems like it’s basically over. Meat and carapace floated around Karlstein like air and his fleet was busy scattering to collect or annihilate Kaiju fragments.

It wasn’t completely over yet.

From human-sized micro-creatures to those the size of a two-story building, tens of thousands of small entities were still rampaging.

However, he was not worried.

Thousands of thin beams of light shot out from 300 space fleets, incinerating the remaining Kaiju.

Micro and small-sized creatures could be dealt with by the ships themselves without him needing to physically intervene. No further action was required on his part.

-4 Large Creatures, 722 Medium-Large Creatures, 7,868 Medium Creatures, and 247,333 Medium-Small Creatures have been eliminated.

The problematic Barrier was also slowly healing and returning to its original state.

-It's a relief it ended so easily. Considering the scale of a space battlefield, this was so minor that it was embarrassing to even be called a skirmish.

-Thanks to Grand Duchess Maxien, we were able to finish quickly.

-That’s... true.

There was a certain madness that could be felt in her gaze, but regardless of that, her skills were unparalleled.

What if he had to clean up this battlefield alone?

He might have had to run around for days without sleep.

-Maxien really does need to keep being deployed!

-...

Aria maintained her silence to Karlstein's muttering.

Something caught the happy Karlstein's eye.

"Mmm? Ah..."

He saw a scene of Keisha Winsler, nicknamed ‘Magic Is Just For Support’, bristling even though she didn’t have fur, clearly wary of the massage chair. Her gaze looked like she had quite some complicated thoughts.

"Right. This isn’t what’s important right now."

Karlstein hadn’t forgotten the root cause that had led him to sortie.

-How should we handle it?

-There shouldn’t be a need to only clean up after letting things escalate like now.

The look in Karlstein’s eyes inside the suit was horrendously cold. When seeing such a gaze, it was hard to associate him with someone who typically enjoyed browsing the community with laughter.

He was the Emperor leading the Galactic Empire.

As the Emperor, there was no hesitation in what needed to be done or what decisions he had to make.

And in these sorts of decisions, there was actually no distinction between his inner self, who held the perspective of an ordinary modern citizen, and his iron-blooded Emperor persona.

Karlstein was someone who knew at least that much.

-I shall authorize the Nova.

-...Understood. The death, the explosion of a star.

The approval of the worst, most advanced weapon of the Galactic Empire, named 'Nova,' was decreed from his /genesisforsaken